Debutants Santa Rosa of Region #1 were crowned the Milo Secondary School Football Champion, defeating former winner Chase Academy 5-3 on penalty kicks yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Locked 3-3 at the end of full time, Santa Rosa commenced the shootout as they scored to the lower right corner. Chase Academy was equally clinical as they converted to the left side.
Santa Rosa then took a 2-1 lead to start the second stanza as they scored to the roof of the net. However, Chase Academy failed to convert as Shakeem Welcome struck a time effort straight at the goalkeeper.
The third round failed to separate the teams at 3-2 as both sides scored from the mark. The score then ballooned to 4-3 as they both netted in the fourth round.
Simply needing to score to seal the win to start the fifth stanza, Santa Rosa made no mistake as they converted to the right side to spark celebrations on the field.
Prior to the dramatic conclusion, Seon Cato handed Chase Academy the lead in the 21st minute, directing his header into the left corner from the centre of the box after receiving a left sided corner kick.
Matrim Martin then made it 2-0 one minute later, latching onto a loose ball before rifling his effort into the left corner. The score remained unchanged heading into the halftime period.
However, it became a game of two halves as Santa Rosa recorded two goals to level the score at 2-2.
Roy Van Sluytman, the event’s eventual Most Valuable Player (MVP), scored in the 50th minute to reduce the deficit at 1-2. A horrendous goalkeeping error led to the conversion as a free kick from the centre of the field went through the grasp of the goalkeeper and into the left corner.
The equalizer occurred in the 73rd minute as Van Sluytman completed his double, directing his header into the back of the net after latching onto a cross from the left side inside the six yard box.
Chase Academy then retook the lead in the 83rd minute under fortuitous circumstances, as a free kick from the right side was inadvertently deflected by the defender into the path of the forward who stabbed home into the right side.
Nevertheless another goalkeeping blunder handed Santa Rosa the equalizer one minute later, as the custodian inexplicably raced out of his area, allowing the forward to intercept the ball, race into the penalty box and finish into the lower left corner.
With the outcome, Santa Rosa walked away with $300,000 towards a school project, medals and the championship trophy, whilst Chase Academy received $200,000 for a school initiative and the respective accolade.
Meanwhile, Carmel downed Mackenzie High 3-0 in the third place playoff. Samuel Ferguson, Shem James, and Eion Daniels scored in the 34th, 46th, and 85th minute respectively.
Due to the result, Carmel walked away with $100,000 towards a school project and a trophy whilst Mackenzie High received $50,000 for a school initiative and the corresponding accolade.
On the individual side of the presentation, Daniels of Carmel copped the Highest Goal Scorer award with 12 conversions whilst Enrique Williams of Santa Rosa pocketed the Best Goalkeeper title. The Most Disciplined Team was also adjudged to be Santa Rosa.
Complete Results
Final
Chase Academy-3 vs Santa Rosa-3
Santa Rosa won 5-3 on penalty kicks
Chase scorers
Seon Cato-21st
Matrim Martin-22nd
Justin Alcindor-83rd
Santa Rosa scorers
Roy Van Sluytman-50th and 73rd
Nelson Lucas-84th
3rd Place
Carmel-3 vs Mackenzie High-0
Samuel Ferguson-34th
Shem James-46th
Eion Daniels-85th
