Mucurapo squeeze into Intercol semi-finals

MUCURAPO needed a 74th minute strike from Christon Thomas to defeat San Juan 1-0 in their RBTT Intercol quarter-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo yesterday. The “semis” will be contested on Thursday, also at Mucurapo, with the North Zone champs facing Vessigny at 4 pm while defending winners St Anthony’s will oppose “Big 5” title-holders St Augustine two hours later. Thomas received a pass from Cyrano Glen in the centre of the field and thundered his 30-metre drive, which was deflected into the net by goalkeeper Joseph John-Williams.

San Juan employed a defensive system to hold off the challenge of Mucurapo, who were missing goalkeeper Nigel Thomas and midfielders Khaleem Hyland and Atullah Guerra due to national team duties. The Bourg Mulatresse lads missed a 23rd minute chance when Kadeem Gibbs headed a Terryl Elwin freekick overbar while Mucurapo had three opportunities, which were squandered by Akim Armstrong (24th), Nigel Arthur (31st) and Richard Roy (48th). Elwin almost levelled the scores for San Juan in second-half stoppage time, when Elwin’s 20-metre deflected drive struck the uprights, but Mucurapo held firm until the end. Quarter-final action in the Girls Intercol are also underway with St George’s whipping Corpus Christi 3-0 at Mucurapo yesterday while Providence crushed Moruga 4-1 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Friday. St Joseph’s Convent, Port-of-Spain were due to meet Arima Senior yesterday while champs Malick will face Maple Leaf at the St Anthony’s Ground, Westmoorings on Tuesday.