Three different players were on target to lead reigning champions Malabar Semi-Pro Blasters to a comfortable 3-0 win over Point Ligoure Nkomo in their quarterfinal of the RBC West Penn Island-wide Community Youth Under-20 Football Tournament on Saturday.
Playing at the Eddie Hart Ground, Tunapuna, Semi-Pro Blasters got goals from Israel Joseph as early as the seventh minute, the prolific Dwight Jordan in the 29th, and Terrell Wiley-Neptune in the 59th to blank Point Ligoure Nkomo and set up a semifinal meeting with FC Ginga at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex on Saturday.
This was after FC Ginga outclassed Moruga Mascall Football Academy inspired by a hat trick from Malachi Hazel. He opened the scoring in the 13th minute which they held until the half-time whistle.
Two minutes after the resumption, Moruga Mascall Football Academy drew thanks to Tyrique Lucas, but within a minute Hazel restored FC Ginga’s slim lead, and nine minutes before the final whistle he iced his team win by completing his hat trick for a 3-1 scoreline.
In the other semifinal on Saturday at Diego Martin, Petit Valley/Diego Martin and Maguaya United FA will do battle after hard-fought last-eight wins.
At the Mayaro Recreation Ground, Maguaya United got goals from Omarion Campbell, in the 66, and Akeem De Gaines, four minutes from full-time to secure a come-from-behind win over visitors Santa Cruz Football Academy, who led through a third-minute Kofi King item.
At the Mahaica Sporting Complex, Point Fortin, visitors Petit Valley/Diego Martin eked out a 5-4 penalty-kicks win over Guapo Uprising Youths after an entertaining 3-3 draw at the end of full-time.
Guapo Uprising Youths had only themselves to blame as they led three times in the, through Christon Phillip as early as the first minute, and then in the 37th, as well as a 56th minute through Kanye Francis.
However, each time, Petit Valley/Diego Martin replied with items from Russell Francois in the 33rd, Thierry Henry in the 47th, and Joshua Miller, in the 71st before the visitors silenced the home crowd in the dreaded penalty shoot-out.
The winners of the semifinals will meet in the final at the Diego Martin Sporting Complex, on Saturday (July 22) from 5 pm.
Results
Quarterfinals (July 9)
Guapo Uprising Youths 3 (Christon Phillip 1st, 37th, Kanye’ Francis 56th) vs Petit Valley/Diego Martin 3 (Russell Francois 33rd, Thierry Henry 47th, Joshua Miller 71st) - Petit Valley/Diego Martin won 5-4 on penalty-kicks.
Maguaya Utd FA 2 (Omarion Campbell 66th, Akeem De Caine 86th) vs Santa Cruz Football Academy 1 (Kofi King 3rd)
Saturday’s results
FC Ginga 3 (Malachi Hazel 13th,48th, 81st) vs Moruga Mascall Football Academy 1 (Tyrique Lucas 47th) vs Malabar Semi-Pro Blasters 3 (Israel Joseph 7th, Dwight Jordan 29th, Terrell Wiley-Neptune 59th) vs Point Ligoure Nkomo 0