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The NLCL U-19 Community Cup will have a new champion club in 2024, with the final set to be contested by two first-time entrants, City FC and Athletic International Academy (AIA).
The two teams from opposite sides of the east-west corridor will meet from 3.30pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar on Sunday 17 March. Their clash will be preceded by an exhibition match from 1.30pm between Soccer Made Simple (SMS) and Pro Series.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
SMS lifted both Community Cup titles since the pandemic, after Eastern Counties representative, MaGuaya United, won the inaugural crown in 2019. However, SMS, for the third time this season, could not find a way past City on Sunday.
Once more, the west Port of Spain team struck late. In the quarterfinals, a stoppage time goal by playmaker Caden Trestrail eliminated Central Soccer World, as the western outfit prevailed 2-1 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
This weekend, utility player Kade Collier delivered the goods at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, with a low strike at the near post in the 91st minute. It was the only goal of the match.
SMS, incidentally, are run by Fatima College manager Stephen “Bison” Williams. The fact that Collier is a Fatima student might offer the scantest of consolations.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
In the earlier semifinal contest, AIA, without suspended captain Theo Crovador, were still too much for Tobago hotshots Ball Blasters Youth Academy as they ran out 2-0 winners. Both items came from set pieces.
Attacker Jahdel Chase-Charles gave the Trincity-based team the lead in the 53rd minute, with a flicked header off a Jaheshua Ferguson long throw. And, 21 minutes later, forward Jean-Marc Thomas got an insurance item after Ball Blasters made a mess of a deep free kick from AIA midfielder Angel Aragones.
Ball Blasters were due to contest the third place-off at Malabar. But issues in securing flight tickets by the tournament organisers forced them to withdraw.
There are no such issues for City FC or AIA. One of those two teams will leave Malabar as NLCL U-19 Community Cup champions.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868
NLCL U-19 Cup semifinal round
(Sunday 10 March)
AIA 2 (Jahdel Chase-Charles 53, Jean-Marc Thomas 74), Ball Blasters YA 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium;
City FC 1 (Kade Collier 90+1), Soccer Made Simple 0 at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium.
Upcoming fixtures
(Sunday 17 March)
SMS vs Pro Series, 1.30pm, exhibition match, Larry Gomes Stadium;
City FC vs AIA, 3.30pm, final, Larry Gomes Stadium.
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