DAVID SCARLETT
AFTER three long years since the last competition, the Coca-Cola Intercol's South Zone semifinals returned in roaring fashion as two feisty prides of Lions devoured their helpless prey at the Ato Boldon, Couva, on Wednesday evening.
The La Romaine Lions – St Benedict’s College – and the Pres Lions – Presentation College (San Fernando) – both advanced to the South Zone Intercol final after defeating Moruga Secondary and Naparima College 10-0 and 1-0, respectively.
In the first game of the afternoon, the current Tiger Tanks Premiership champions, St Benedict’s College, mauled the boys from the depths of the southland without mercy.
Leading by example, captain Tarik Lee opened the scoring in the 13th minute as he cheekily rolled the ball past the Moruga goalkeeper, and viscously banged the ball into the empty net.
Nine minutes later, the La Romaine Lions doubled their lead as Lee attempted a shot towards goal, which the goalkeeper saved, but the ball ricocheted onto Moruga defender, Justin Ochoa, and flew in between the posts.
It only took 16 seconds after the break for St Benedict’s to net a third. Mercurial striker, Nicholas Bobcombe, muscled his way through the Moruga defence and clinically placed the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper.
Derrel Garcia made it 4-0 to the Lions in the 50th minute when he received a one-two pass from teammate Jeremiah Niles, and he rifled the ball into the top right corner.
Josiah Ochoa made it 5-0 just two minutes after when he headed in a cross delivered by Bobcombe from the right flank. Lee scored his second in the 58th minute via a smart left-footed finish from 10 yards out to make it 6-0.
Ochoa headed in St Benedict’s seventh of the afternoon from a right-sided corner kick in the 72nd minute. He then turned provider seven minutes later as he played a well-weighted through-ball to Jaden Grant, who coolly slotted home to make it 8-0.
The Lions scored yet again from a corner kick in the 80th min as Rayshawn Crichlow found himself in open space and tapped the ball in from six yards out for St Benedict’s ninth goal.
Eight minutes from full time, Bobcombe capitalised on a defensive mistake from the Moruga backline to make it a resounding ten goals to nil, as the La Romaine Lions comfortably marched on to their first South Zone Intercol final since 2014.
The second semifinal showcased the San Fernando Derby between bitter rivals Presentation College and Naparima College. It was a fixture that proved to be tight as both teams struggled to break each other down.
Naparima’s Omari Campbell was close to opening the scoring in the 10th minute when he received an excellent pass from Kanye Francis and fired a shot towards goal, but Presentation goalkeeper, Kanye Lazarus, pulled off a brilliant save – one of many – to deny the Naparima striker.
In a feisty game that seemed like a chess match, the match-winner came in first-half stoppage time as Presentation captain, Dantaye Gilbert, powerfully headed the ball into the back of the net from a right-sided c
