By Duncan Saul in Mabaruma
Photos by Orlando Charles
Santa Rosa Secondary overcame Hosororo Secondary 3-1 in their semifinal encounter as action in the Digicel Secondary Schools National U18 Football Tournament continued at the Mabaruma Community Centre ground yesterday.
Witnessed in front of a large Barima/Waini crowd, Hosororo would almost take the lead through a 20th minute penalty kick. Tasked with taking the spot kick, Hosororo centre back Kevin Solomon’s powerful shot would be brilliantly saved by the Santa Rosa shot stopper who flung himself low and hard to his right to keep the scores level.
Hosororo would eventually take the lead through a Paul Lucian 39th minute strike.
Latching onto a well-placed cross from the right side of the 18 box, Lucian would easily tap in his right-footed effort unmarked in the six-yard area to send the crowd into loud celebrations.
Santa Rosa would find the equaliser in the 58th minute compliments of a towering Angel Rodrigues header to the lower left hand corner of the goal from a left-sided corner kick.
Brendon Phillips would give Santa Rosa the lead two minutes later through a cheeky left- footed chipped shot over the onrushing Hosororo shot stopper in the 18-yard box.
The come-from-behind victory would effectively be sealed in the 88th minute through an audacious Rodrigues 35-yard strike.
Spotting the Hosororo custodian off his line, Rodrigues would strike a right-footed effort from the left side of the field that nestled perfectly into the top right hand corner of the goal to bring the crowd to its feet.
Over at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue, Dolphin Secondary through a Toquan Clarke 62nd minute strike defeated Queen’s College 1-0 in their semifinal encounter.
Bladen Hall Secondary edged Ann’s Grove Secondary 3-1 in their semifinal encounter at the Golden Grove ground on the East Coast of Demerara.
Mickel Edward, Kevon Durant and Tyrone Harper were on target for the victors in the 24th, 38th and 49th minutes respectively. Jamal Blair netted for Ann’s Grove in the ninth minute.
Charity Secondary clinched their third consecutive Region 2 title as they defeated Aurora Secondary by a 3-2 score line at the New Opportunity Corp (NOC) ground in Essequibo.
Faizal Williams netted a double in the 36th and 57th minutes for the victors while an own goal in the 85th minute completed the win.
Renaldo Bazil and Clever Thomas scored for the losers in the 54th and 61st minutes respectively.
