Tourney favourites Chase Academy overcame a 1-0 first half deficit to defeat South Ruimveldt 2-1 when the third annual Milo/Petra Organization Secondary Schools u-20 football tourney continued yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground.
With both sides already securing their passage to the knockout round, Kareem Knights almost opened the scoring for the Parade Street unit in the 18th minute as he was denied in a one-on-one situation by onrushing goalkeeper.
South Ruimveldt would then steal the lead six minutes later, igniting the large partisan gathering through a sublime Shaquille Blair header.
Lurking within the centre of the penalty box, Blair, upon rising above everyone to meet a cross from a left sided corner kick, would direct his effort into the top left hand corner.
Keon Douglas would then be denied from equalizing in the 28th minute as his powerful free kick from the left side of the field was tipped over crossbar by the custodian. Content with their lead going into the second stanza, South Ruimveldt would adopt an even more defensive approach.
Keith Caines would then have a great opportunity to level the matchup in the 42nd minute, flashing his attempt over the crossbar from within the right side of the area after latching onto a lobbed pass from the left side of the field.
Struggling for the most part to penetrate the South Ruimveldt backline, Chase Academy would finally level the score line four minutes onward as Isaiah Reddy netted.
Racing down the centre of the field during a counterattack from a resulting South Ruimveldt throw inside Chase Academy’s defensive third, Reddy would place his flat right footed attempt from within the box into the lower right hand corner.
The Parade Street unit almost took the lead for the first time in the 54th minute as a curling Douglas right footed free kick from 24 yards out, was tipped inches over the crossbar by the opposing goalkeeper.
With the minutes ticking away, Chase Academy would seal the hard-fought win in the 65th minute as Reddy netted his second, rifling his powerful right footed effort into the top left hand corner of the goal, after racing into the centre of the penalty area.
In the opening must win fixture, St. Mary’s Secondary defeated Brickdam Secondary by a 2-0 score line to seal their passage to the next round. Curtez Kellman opened the scoring for the winners with a seventh minute conversion.
Andel Smith would then seal their berth in the next round as he found the back of the net in the 42nd minute. Similarly sealing their spot in the next round was former winners St. George Secondary who defeated Ascension Secondary via walkover.
Similarly clinching their place in the knockout round in a must win affair was Dolphin Secondary who defeated Christ Church Secondary by a 3-0 margin.
Dakhawn Matthews broke the deadlock for the victor’s compliments of a 35th minute strike. The lead would then be doubled three minutes later as Leon Richardson scored. Richardson would then seal the result as he completed his double with a 50th minute strike.
Action in the round of 16 section is programmed to commence on Saturday at the same venue. Winners of the event will pocket the championship trophy and $500,000 towards the building of any school project.
On the other hand, the second, third and fourth placed sides will pocket $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively towards the funding of a school venture and the corresponding accolade.
On the individual side, awards will be given for the event’s most valuable player, highest goal scorer and best goal keeper while four full scholarships to attend Chase Academy free of cost will also be up for grabs.
