Fire Service pulled off an upset in the Southern Football Association’s League Cup Knockout final, beating favourites Lion Heart FC 4-3 on penalty-kicks after a 1-1 deadlock at Guapo Recreation Ground, Guapo, Point Fortin, on Wednesday night.
Enrique Duncan netted for Lion Heart to take a lead in the fist-half and it seemed that goal would be enough to secure the title, until Lyndon Luke drew Fire Service level with ten minutes left, after which both teams failed to find a winner.
In the penalty shootout, Fire Service showed the better nerves, scoring four of five attempts, while Lion Heart converted one less.
On Sunday last in the semifinals, Fire Service got a hat-trick from Isaiah Francis and one from Yatham Henry and Juran Teesdale to outgun Mascall Football Academy 5-3.
Deshawn Douglas scored a double and Dwight Douglas the other for Mascall in the loss.
Lion Heart had a much tougher test on their hands, as they first battled to a 3-3 draw with #9 Gunners United FC before eking out a 3-2 penalty-kicks win.
The trio of Kwame Gonzales, Keion Thomas and Derise Biggart were all on target in regulation-time for Lion Heart, while Zwade Sanchez, Kelvin Mark and Ithiel Daniel netted for #9 Gunners United.
Lion Heart will have a chance at redemption tomorrow when they go after the SFA Premier Division title as they face second-from-bottom, Mascall Football Academy in their final match at Latchoos Road, Penal, from 3.30 pm.
Currently, #9 Gunners United, who earned a win by default over Fire Service in a re-scheduled match last week, are top of the five-team table with 19 points from their eight-matches, one point ahead of Lion Heart.
However, #9 Gunners United have scored more goals than Lion Heart and also conceded fewer than their title rivals, meaning Lion Heart will need an outright victory over MFA to claim the title.
League Cup semi final Results:
FIRE SERVICE 5 (Isaiah Francis 3, Yatham Henry, Juran Teesdale) v MASCAL FOOTBALL ACADEMY 3 (Deshawn Douglas 2, Dwight Douglas)
#9 GUNNERS UNITED FC 3 (Zwade Sanchez, Kelvin Mark, Ithiel Daniel) v LION HEART FC 3 (Kwame Gonzales, Keion Thomas, Derise Biggart) - Lion Heart won 3-2 on penalty-kicks
Final:
FIRE SERVICE 1 (Lyndon Luke) v LION HEART FC 1 (Enrique Duncan) - Fire Service won 4-3 on penalty-kicks
SFA Premier Division Results:
#9 GUNNERS UNITED 3 v FIRE SERVICE 0 – by default
Current SFA Premier Division Standings:
Teams*P*W*D*L*F*A*Pts
1. #9 Gunners Utd*8*6*1*1*25*10*19
2. Lion Heart*7*6*0*1*14*4*18
3. Fire Service*8*3*0*5*11*14*9
4. Mascall F.A*7*3*0*4*10*14*9
5. MIC Sunrise*8*0*1*7*2*20*1