National Under-17 midfielder Brandon Semper scored a pair of late goals to lead San Juan North Secondary to a come-from-behind 2-1 defeat of St Augustine Secondary School in their Secondary Schools Football League East Zone Coca-Cola Inter-Col final yesterday.
With the win at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, San Juan North advanced to the National smeifinal against the winner of Friday’s North Zone final between defending champions, St Anthony’s College and Trinity College of Moka.
However, yesterday it was St Augustine Secondary. which won its Premier Division league meeting with San Juan North 1-0 which did the early running and took the lead courtesy Kendall Hitlal in the 14th.
St Augustine managed to hold onto its advantage until 13 minute from the final whistle when Semper got his team on level terms, before he completed the turn-around four minutes from full-time to snatch victory.
Over at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet, Tobago, Signal Hill survived a tense battle with Speyside to come away with a 7-6 sudden-death win after 18 penalty-kicks.
The hero for Signal Hill was goalkeeper Jerry Fermin who saved Lyndon Johnson’s eight attempt for Speyside.
Both teams earlier battled to a 0-0 draw at the end of 90-minutes of regulation-time while they ended the first round of five penalty-kicks apiece at 4-4.
In the shoot-out, Speyside twice had chances to take the title, however it failed to capitalised on missed penalties by Signal Hill’s Che Richards and Nathan Cadiz.
However, Speyside muffed its own through Shashfie Mc Kenzie and Kellis Coker to prolong the contest, before coming up short, as Signal Hill booked a national quarterfinal with Carapichaima East Secondary.
At the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, perennial zonal champions Carapichaima East crushed Gasparillo Secondary 5-0 led by a double from Theophilus Bourne in the 29th and 75th minutes.
The trio of Daniel Pascall (22nd), Elijah King (78th) and Akeem Allert (82nd) chipped in with one each for the winners.