Carapichaima East Secondary successfully defended their Coca Cola Intercol Central Zone title with a 2-1 win over Chaguanas North Secondary on Wednesday, becoming the first team to book a place in the national playoffs in the process.
It was also the eighth consecutive zonal triumph for the Central kings, who never really looked like they were going to relinquish their reign.
They hit the ground running through Dexter Neils, who fired them in front from as early as the second minute.
This would be a lead they carried to the halftime interval as Chaguanas North never posed any serious threat to Terell Leacock in the Carapaichaima East goal.
The lead was doubled in the 67th minute when Malik Robinson finally got his name on the score sheet after terrorizing the Chaguanas North defence all evening long.
The boys from Chaguanas North, after being wasteful in the final third from the few chances they created, finally found success in the 87th minute when Tristan Lewis slammed home.
But that consolation goal only created a nervous final few minutes for Carapichaima before referee Nikolai Nyron blew the whistle to seal their championship performance.
The central champs will now head to the national semifinals where they will await the East Zone winner. That final will be played on Thursday at the Larry Gomes Stadium from 3 pm between defending zonal champs San Juan North and St Augustine Secondary.
RESULT
Central Zone InterCol Final
CARAPICHAIMA EAST SECONDARY 2 (Dexter Neils 2nd, Malik Robinson 67th) v CHAGUANAS NORTH SECONDARY 1 (Tristan Lewis 87th)