A new champion will be crowned in the Ministry of Health/Petra Organization Soft Shoe football competition after North East La Penitence eliminated the defending champs Sparta Boss 2-0 on penalty kicks assisted by the heroics of custodian Devon Charles.
Dubbed the battle of the ‘La Penitence’, the matchup, at the Santos Training Area, Square of the Revolution, needed penalty kicks to decide the outcome after normal and extra time saw the score knotted 2-2.
Asked to take first strike from the spot, Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson, of the East La Penitence-based Sparta Boss, watched agonizingly as his effort was denied by Charles low to his right, much to the appreciation of the large and partisan crowd.
The viewership was given another reason to celebrate as North East La Penitence scored from their first attempt to lead 1-0. The second round of penalty kicks mirrored the first as Charles made his presence felt once more, this time denying Devon Millington brilliantly to his left to bring further praise from the viewership.
Needing a conversion to seal the outcome amid much anticipation, Alwin Moore sent the venue into a frenzy as he placed a right foot shot into the lower left corner.
Prior to the end, Richardson had handed Sparta Boss the lead in the 10th minute, directing his shot into the roof of the net, after collecting a left side pass from Millington.
At the other end Moore almost grabbed the equaliser for North East La Penitence in the 21st minute, unleashing a shot from the centre of the area which was tipped by the diving goalkeeper low to his left.
North East La Penitence eventually leveled proceedings in the 29th minute as Charles made an immediate impact off the bench.
Collecting a pass from his own half with his back to the goal inside the box, he turned and smashed his effort into the left corner.
The goal was nothing short of timely as the fixture headed into the extra time realm moments later. It was at this point that North East La Penitence grabbed the go-ahead goal in the 32nd minute as Moore netted, stabbing home into the net after a cross was dropped by the goalkeeper into his path.
Richardson, though, equalised for Sparta Boss three minutes later slotting home from the centre after collecting a pass from Millington to send the match into its eventual end.
North East La Penitence will next oppose Tucville in the final tomorrow at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Tucville defeated Broad Street 3-2 on penalty kicks in the earlier semi-final showdown after normal and extra time was unable to provide a winner with the match scoreless.
