Tourney host Fruta Conquerors and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) are through to the final of the Turbo Energy Drink sponsored Fruta Conquerors U19 Academy League final following semifinal wins over Santos and Uitvlugt respectively on Monday.
Fruta Conquerors defeated fierce rival Santos 1-0 while the Bourda-based unit GFC overcame Uitvlugt 4-3 at the Tucville Community ground.
The two winners will now face-off in the final at the same venue with the losers battling for the third position at 17:00hrs.
In the feature contest between Conquerors and Santos, Leon Richardson almost gave the former the lead in the 12th minute, smashing a first-time effort onto the crossbar from the top of the penalty area.
On the other hand, Santos almost broke the deadlock through Sheldon Profit in the 23rd minute. Profitt latched on to a flat left-side cross unchallenged inside the right of the box, only to blast his first time strike high over the crossbar.
Although struggling to maintain possession of the ball, the home side were crafting the better opportunities, with Richardson once again making his presence felt in the 30th minute.
Again receiving a left side pass inside the centre of the box, Richardson forced a brilliant save from the Santos goalkeeper, who, upon changing direction to his right, deflected the right foot shot with his outstretched right hand onto the post.
However, the hosts would not be denied as Nicholas McArthur converted in the 34th minute. McArthur received a cross outside the left of the box, and then rifled a thunderous effort into the top right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance and sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Upon the resumption of the second period, Job Caesar nearly fashioned the equalizer in the 64th minute, curling left foot free-kick from outside the right of the box which crashed onto the crossbar.
The Tucville unit was then presented with a perfect opportunity to double their lead in the 73rd minute, after being awarded a penalty kick for a handball infraction.
Tasked with the responsibility, Captain Jeremy Garrett spurned the chance as he was denied by the goalkeeper low to his right with his legs.
Similarly, Nehemiah Gomes was presented with a great chance to put the game beyond the reach of Santos in the 78th minute only to blast his effort over the crossbar after collecting a pass unchallenged inside the centre of the box.
Santos’s hopes of an equaliser was hampered as Lionel Holder was issued a red card in the 80th minute after receiving his second bookable offence.
Another red card saw Santos being reduced to nine players as Ryan Dowding picked up his second yellow card in the 90th minute.
Meanwhile, GFC secured the hard-fought result over compliments of a double from Dwayne Ribeiro in the 16th and 85th minute and a brace from Marvin Carter in the 14th and 90th+3 minute. For the losing team Chris Macey recorded a hat-trick in the 47th, 66th and 84th minute.
