NYFL 2023: North clubs maintain 100% record, as youth tournament heads to semis

QPCC had a good day at the office in Republic Cup National Youth Football League (NYFL) action yesterday, as their Under-15, Under-17 and Under-20 teams all triumphed on the field of play.

The QPCC Under-15s are forced to await word from the tournament’s disciplinary committee, after Crown Trace FC protested their use of different colour bibs in their 4-2 win at the Republic Bank Sports Club. But, if they succeed in the protest room, all four QPCC teams will stay in the hunt for national youth honours.

It has been a show of strength from North Zone teams in general so far, in the 2023 NYFL competition.

All seven North participants who took to the field in the knockout stage, reeled off quarterfinal victories over the past week. And Pro Series will try to make it a perfect eight this evening, when they tackle East Zone runners up, Arima Semi-Pro Blasters Youth Academy, from 4.15pm at the Eddie Hart Ground #1 in Tacarigua.

At the other end of the scale, both Eastern Counties representatives lost their quarterfinal outings while, if Crown Trace lose their protest, all seven Central teams would be eliminated.

South Zone representatives have done pretty well, with six from their eight clubs progressing to the semifinals.

Yesterday, Union Hall United FC avenged a penalty shootout loss to FC Ginga in the East Under-13 quarterfinals to edge Ginga 2-1 in the Under-15 division.

And Cox Coaching School and Premier Sports Club advanced to the semis in two divisions each.

The East Zone has not had much to cheer about.

Ginga and Defence Force are still alive in the Under-13 and Under-20 categories respectively. However, six of their nine clubs were sent packing in the knockout stage—counting the Arima Araucans Academy that lost a Play Off to Central’s Evolution FA.

The Arima Blasters will try to get a third East team over the line this evening, but they will not have it easy against Pro Series.

See below for quarterfinal results and semifinal match-ups so far.

2023 Republic Cup NYFL knockout bracket

Under-13

(Saturday 27 May)

Crown Trace FC 0, QPCC 5 (Reagan Rowe [4], Matthew Lee Young) at Republic Bank Sports Club

FC Ginga 3 (Jeremai Nanton [2], Jiair Nanton), Union Hall Utd 3 (Sherkeel Campbell, Djoshua Cyrus, Jeduthun Emptage) at Republic Bank Sports Club

*—Ginga won 3-0 on kicks from the penalty mark

Cardinals FA 2 (Deron Blackman pen, Jaylon Roberts), Trincity Nationals 0 at Republic Bank Sports Club

(Sunday 28 May)

Cox Coaching School 4, FC Duranta 0 at Republic Bank Sports Club

Under-15

(Tuesday 30 May)

Cox Coaching School 7, Evolution FC 0 at Republic Bank Sports Club

FC Ginga 1 (Elijah Diaz pen), Union Hall Utd 2 (Jeremiah Daniel, Mikel Bullock) at Republic Bank Sports Club

Crown Trace FC 2 (Supreme Outar, Nikosi Foncette), QPCC FC 4 (Seth Hadeed, Cadel Trestrail, Phillip Nelson, Anthony Mansoor) at Republic Bank Sports Club

(Wednesday 31 May)

Pro Series vs Arima Semi-Pro Blasters YA, 4.15pm, Eddie Hart Ground #1

Under-17

(Saturday 27 May)

Tinto’s Sporting Academy 3 (Tyrell Stapleton 50, 59 pen, Raheem Nelson 63) Premier SC 5 (Malachi Webb 6, 45+1, 70, Jabari Rodriguez 18, Raheem Nelson 63) at St Augustine Secondary

Point Fortin YA 4 (Kareem Sealy 9 pen, Josiah Ochoa 19, 49, Jeremiah Niles 75), Gasparillo Youths 1 (Deondre Moonesar 31) at St Augustine Secondary

Pro Series 3 (Micha’el John 32, Arron Raymond 40, Tau Lamsee 90+5), Beatnix SC 0 at St Augustine Secondary

(Tuesday 30 May)

Crown Trace FC 0, QPCC 6 (Josiah Connell [2], Kade Collier, Jadiel Joseph, Yohance Atherton, Luke Lee King) at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya;

Under-20

(Sunday 28 May)

Defence Force 8 (Jeremiah Frank-Williams 5, Larry Noel 26, 60, 80, Kiel Lopez 48, Jaheim Granderson 55, Jaheem Jacob 85, Liam Dayal 85), Ste Madeleine Strikers 2 (Rayshawn Critchlow 7, Joshua Barclay 24) at St Augustine Secondary

(Tuesday 30 May)

Crown Trace FC 0, Malick Blue Lions 2 (Ronaldinho Richards, Lendelle Baptiste) at St Augustine Secondary School;

Premier SC 3 (Zachary Seecharan, Duane Edwards, Jarelle Sutherland), Eastern Counties Utd 1 at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya;

QPCC 3 (Aidan de Gannes, Michael Chaves, Alijah Nunes), Eastern Jaguars 0 at Republic Bank Sports Club.

Semifinal Match-ups (time and venue to be confirmed)

Under-13

QPCC vs FC Ginga

Cardinals FA vs Cox Coaching School

Under-15

Cox Coaching School vs Pro Series/ Arima Semi-Pro Blasters YA

QPCC FC vs Union Hall United

Under-17

Premier Sports Club vs QPCC

Point Fortin Youth Academy vs Pro Series

Under-20

Defence Force vs Malick Blue Lions,

Premier SC vs QPCC

Editor’s Note: Click HERE for information on Crown Trace FC’s protest against the QPCC Under-15 team.