After 53 fixtures across 16 days, favourites Chase Academy will faceoff with the formidable Dolphin Secondary in the finale of the third annual Milo Schools u-20 football tourney today from 19:00hrs at the Ministry of Education ground.
By virtue of their 1-0 semi-final win over fellow giants Morgan Learning Centre, the Parade Street unit will start the matchup as the favourites. Offensively Chase Academy have been the best team in the tourney, netting an outstanding 21 goals over six matches.
A closer look at the numbers would further highlight that Chase Academy has scored 12 goals in three knockout matches, the best among the two finalists. Isaiah Reddy and Marlon Nedd have been the main protagonists for Chase Academy, netting a combined 12 goals to date.
Further examination will illustrate that both have netted four goals apiece in the elimination rounds and will be a challenge alongside the likes of Kareem Knights, Shamar Barrow, Keith Caines and Jeremy Garrett, who have all found the back of the net.
From a defensive perspective, the Parade Street unit have been equally impressive as they have only conceded three times over the entire campaign. While they would have conceded twice in the knockout round, both of the goals came against Queenstown Secondary in the quarterfinal.
Outside of their quarterfinal struggle, the Chase Academy backline has maintained two clean sheets in the knockout rounds and will be confident of securing another.
While it was their offensive capacities that made them a force in the tourney with 11 goals in the group stage, it is defensive showings in the knockout rounds which has made Dolphin Secondary a balanced and dangerous team.
Prior to their 2-1 semi-final victory over fallen champs Lodge Secondary, Dolphin Secondary had only been breached three times in the tourney, two of which came in their opening group fixture of the event.
Although they would have conceded in their previous engagement, Dolphin Secondary had only been breached twice in five matches inclusive of group and knockout round fixtures.
Offensively they have netted a capable 17 goals to date in their six games. In the knockout rounds, they have scored a decent six goals in three matches which translates to two goals per game.
Whereas their goal scoring exploits might not be staggering like their more star studded opponents, the combination of Leon Richardson and Joshua Perreira are capable of causing a few problems for the opposing rearguard as they have netted a collective 11 goals.
Richardson has been the primary threat with seven while Perreira has played the supporting role with four. However both have found the back of the net twice in the elimination fixtures and will be required to continue that trend if they are to emerge victorious.
Prior to the grand finale, the third place matchup between former holders Lodge Secondary and Morgan Learning Centre will occur from 17:00hrs.
Winners of the event will pocket the championship trophy and $500,000 towards the building of any school project while 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.
