Bajan Pride disconnected Nulook 360, and T.S Strikers extinguished the flames from Phoenix Toyota UFO Firehouse to book their spots in the semifinals of the LIME Pelican Football Challenge at the National Stadium on Sunday night.
Before one of the largest crowds of the tournament, Bajan Pride scored three goals in the final 20 minutes for a 3-0 victory over Nulook 360 Connections in the night’s first game, while T.S. Strikers edged Firehouse 2-1 in an exciting and action-packed nightcap.
The only real let-down in the enthralling contest was the fact that T.S. Striker’s Jabarry “Papi” Chandler failed to get his name on the scoresheet.
In fact, had he scored any of the four first half chances he was presented with, Firehouse would have been dead and buried by half-time.
His sweetly timed runs, deft touches and an exhibition of his wide array of dribbles still left him goalless.
Firehouse dictated the pace from kick-off, with T.S. Striker’s goalkeeper Omari Eastmond having to dive at full stretch to keep out Shaquille Stewart’s firm strike from outside the penalty area just seconds into the game.
They continued to pile on the pressure, and at one point, they won three consecutive corners as their opponents desperately defended.
Therefore it came as a complete surprise when T.S. Strikers opened the scoring in their first real attack on goal.
Having won a free kick 30 yards out on the left flank after Shane Codrington had been booked for a dangerous two-footed challenge on Zico Edmee, the ball was floated into the area, where Firehouse keeper Greg Jones completely misjudged it.
It resulted in the ball going over his head, and Jamal Chandler took full advantage, heading the ball into the far corner to make it 1-0 in the 17th minute.
Over the course of the next 25 minutes, Jabbary Chandler missed four golden opportunities to extend his team’s lead.
Firstly, after intercepting an attempted back pass and racing clear through on goal, he aimed his powerful shot straight at the advancing Jones, who pulled off a fine save.
He then wasted too much time twisting and turning inside the eight-yard box, and again his shot was straight at the custodian.
Two more chances went abegging, before Timothy Waldron made T.S. Strikers pay three minutes before the half.
He outhustled two defenders inside the area before unleashing a shot into the far corner, giving Eastmond no chance.
Shortly after resumption, T.S. Strikers regained the lead.
After a good run down the right flank, Edmee sent a firm cross into the penalty area intended for Jabarry Chandler, but the ball ricocheted off Codrington and into the back of the net, past a stationary Jones.
Jabarry Chandler continued to struggle in front of goal, wasting two more easy chances.
And Stewart almost made T.S. Strikers pay dearly for those misses, but his header cannoned off the crossbar and back into play with Eastmond beaten. In the dying minutes, Rico “Sas” Baptiste missed a chance to make it 3-1 when he blasted a penalty wide.
It didn’t matter though, as the referee subsequently blew the final whistle, sending them into the semi-finals, where they will face L.G. Kick Strike Force.
Earlier, in a match which had seemed headed into extra-time, goals from Jomo Harewood (73rd), Emron Ponteen in the 85th and Carlo Perry in the 89th minutes condemned 360 Connections to their fourth consecutive defeat.
Harewood broke the stalemate with a well placed lob over Albert Brathwaite, before Ponteen and Perry secured victory with classy strikes in the dying minutes to set up a semi-final clash against Barbados Steelworks Esso Oistins Top Bay Settlers on Sunday.
