Athletico, BM Spurs President’s final

RESURGENT Athletico Sports Institute and BM Spurs meet on Sunday at the St Augustine Senior Secondary School ground with the Eastern Football Association  President’s Cup on the line.

The teams who are separated by one point in ninth (Spurs) and 10th (ASI) on the 13-team league standings, scrambled through the knockout series, disposing of the “big guns” on the way. Athletico disposed of Carib FC 5-4 on penalty kicks after holding last season’s league runners-up 0-0 at the end of regulation and extra-time, and later shocked top club Crab Connection in similar fashion in the semi-finals. BM Spurs had an easier passage to the final, first knocking off cellar-placed East West Coaching School, before edging TSTT 1-0 in the semi-finals. Sunday’s final is timed to kick off at 3.30 pm, and a new cup holder will be crowned by 6 pm, as previous holders Crab Connection were ousted at the semi-final stage. Meanwhile, the WASA Clean & White vs Crab Connection Lucky Bakery-sponsored FA Trophy match will be replayed at WASA ground, St Joseph, also on Sunday from 4.15 pm. Impending darkness forced this game to be blown off while the teams were taking kicks from the penalty spot. But, Joe Public, otherwise known as the Eastern Lions, advanced to the next round of the FA edging Police 4-3 on penalty kicks after the teams battled to a 3-3 draw. Ex-national striker Dexter Cyrus scored twice and Edmond Homer got the other goal for the lawmen, while Jardeno Theobald got a double and Keseon Theodore scored for Joe Public.

TSTT scored an emphatic 3-0 victory over Delta Glass Young Hearts to move on, with Wendell Alexander getting a double and Marlon Yearwood the other goal. And Athletico nudged out JGAS Maloney Two Touch 3-1 on penalties after playing to a 2-2 draw. Stephen Peters got both goals for the “School Boys” while Kyle Williams knocked in both for Maloney. Samba Xtra Malt East San Juan United sneaked into the quarter-finals with a narrow 1-0 triumph over East/West Coaching School on Dion Sosa’s goal. Quarter-final matches: Tuesday — Hearty Foods Bulls vs BM Spurs, at Arima Municipal Stadium; Carib FC vs WASA or Crab Connection, at St Augustine Senior Comprehensive ground; Joe Public vs Samba Xtra Malt East San Juan United, at Squadron ground, Arouca; TSTT vs Athletico Sports Institute, at Valsayn.  All games kick off 4.15 pm.