Cougars FC reached the final of the Berbice Football Association (BFA) sanctioned J’s Golden Arrow Under-20 tournament after edging Orealla Falcons 4-3 on penalty kicks Friday.
Played for 80 minutes under soggy conditions following persistent rainfall, the small crowd that descended at the All Saints Scot’s School ground in New Amsterdam, witnessed Orealla taking the lead in the fourth minute through Brinsley Rajnarine.
Rajnarine unleashed a right foot shot into the right hand corner of the net, the ball evading the outstretched left hand of the goalkeeper.
Cougars eventually scored the equaliser in the 25th minute from the penalty through Xavier Johnson, following an infraction inside the penalty area.
With a winner unable to be found in the remaining minutes of the contest, the penalty shoot-out was required to settle outcome with Cougars emerging successful to seal their place in the championship contest on four points.
Orealla ended the tournament on two points. Cougars will now oppose Paradise Invaders on Saturday at the same venue from 21:00hrs.
Paradise ended the group stage on five points.
Meanwhile, NA United edged Young Strikers via an identical 4-3 margin on penalty kicks after regulation time concluded 1-1 in their reduced 80 minute showdown.
With the conditions making its presence felt, the first half ended scoreless, both teams struggled for offensive proficiency.
However Kevon Williams eventually broke the deadlock with a goal in the 49th minute.
It was his second goal of the event to date. Nevertheless, the game was pushed into the penalty shoot-out realm, with Akeem Munroe etching his name on the scorer’s sheet in the 78th minute.
NA United eventually held their nerve in the tense shoot-out to clinch the win and finish on three points. They will now compete for the third place trophy against Hopetown United Rangers at 19:00hrs.
On the individual side, Shaqueel DeHarte of Paradise Invaders is the leading scorer with three goals.
He is followed by NA United’s duo of Jamal Butts and Williams with two goals apiece, as well as Matthew Doris of Hopetown United Rangers.
