Naps, Pres Sando prevail in Big 4 semis

Naparima eked out a 1-0 win over Intercol champions San Juan North while Presentation San Fernando needed kicks from the penalty spot to oust Premier Division winners Shiva Boys 5-3, after the scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.

The final of the Digicel Play Big 4 Cup will be contested on Monday, from 4.15 pm, at the Ato Boldon Stadium.

In the first game of yesterday’s double- header, Naparima took advantage of apparent fatigue by the San Juan team, but they failed to capitalise on a number of goal-scoring opportunities.

Left-back Khris Stroud had a good chance to break the deadlock in the 35th minute, after he was sent free on goal, but his shot was straight at goalkeeper Shawndell Byer.

Striker Isaiah Lee squandered two wonderful opportunities to put Naps ahead - in the 49th he shrugged off a challenge from Kurdell Sween but shot wide, with Byer at his mercy; and six minutes later Lee rose above the defence to meet a left-sided cross but headed wide.

Defender Shadeon Arthur got the game’s lone item in the 71st, with a speculative 35-metre lob which stunned Byer, who was caught unawares, after the San Juan North team struggled to clear a corner. Arthur almost turned from hero to villain four minutes later, when he upended Nathaniel Perouse in the box and referee Nikoli Nyron pointed to the spot.

But Brandon Semper, who scored in Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Presentation San Fernando in the Intercol final, could not repeat his heroics as his left-footed penalty sailed overbar.

In the latter contest yesterday, Presentation San Fernando and Shiva Boys were 1-1 at the end of full-time.

However, in the penalty shootout, Jordan Riley, Kareem Riley, Darnell Hospedales, Nion Lamy and James Lee Yaw netted for Presentation San Fernando.

Goalie Ishmael Salaam saved Shiva’s second kick, which was taken by Yohannes Richardson, while Tyrell Emmanuel, Simon De Bourgh and Quinn Rodney scored their efforts