Latest update February 14th, 2025 8:22 AM
4th Annual Digicel Schools Football Competition…Host Orealla and Canje advance to next stage
By Rawle Welch
Host Orealla displayed menacing form in front of their home crowd on Sunday after crushing
Canje Secondary School goalscorers Michael Amsterdam (left) and Damion Morgan pose for a photo op following the conclusion of their game against Siparuta on Sunday.
the visiting Lower Corentyne 5-0 in the feature of a double header in the Region 6 Zone of the 4th Annual Digicel Schools Football Competition which was played in the serene Corentyne River community.
Playing at the Community Centre ground, Orealla urged on by a large band of village supporters looked nervous at the beginning and squandered a few early opportunities to score, but slowly began to gain in composure and got the go ahead goal in the 15th minute of play when Verin Felix pounced on a poor clearance from the opposing goalkeeper off a corner and hit a cracking shot into the far corner.
Despite creating quite a few more chances, errant finishing kept the scoreline tight with Orealla clinging to a slim 1-0 advantage at the break.
On the resumption, both teams produced flashes of brilliance, but as was the case in the opening period, erratic shooting and poor passing erased promising buildups and it was not until the 59th minute of play that Orealla’s Orsino Moses was able to break the sequence when he was taken down inside the penalty area and being awarded a spot kick.
The ensuing penalty kick raced into the roof of the net to evoke wild celebrations from the partisan crowd.
Eight minutes later, Moses was once again in action, delivering a powerful shot at goal which was parried on to the crossbar by the keeper, before bouncing over the line.
Deflated by the quick run of successive goals, Lower Corentyne looked a defeated bunch and it was only the result of poor finishing that kept the scoreline from increasing with more rapidity.
However, the locals were not to be denied and Erwin Russell’s cracker in the 86th minute was quickly followed by another from Cameron Edwards two minutes later to seal the deal before the final whistle sounded to set off a state of euphoria among the residents as Orealla advanced.
In the opening clash, Siparuta, another school in the Amerindian community situated along the Corentyne River, produced a spirited challenge to Canje Secondary, but eventually succumbed by a 4-2 margin.
Michael Amsterdam, who netted a double in the 7th and 89th minutes of play silenced the crowd very early when he ran on to a ball that had bounced over the advancing goalkeeper’s head, before hitting it into an empty goal.
Siparuta, whose small statured players were no match to the taller Canje boys, were clearly not intimidated and continued to fight for the equaliser and their determination finally paid off when Cleveland Alstine, displaying silky dribbling skills, weaved his way past two tackles, before firing straight at the goalkeeper, but he managed to punch the ball right back into the path of the striker and he made no mistake on the second opportunity, hitting it into the right hand corner in the 37th minute.
The scores remained deadlock at the half.
One minute after the resumption, Damion Morgan, who like Amsterdam netted a pair, broke the tie when he hammered a ‘screamer’ past the outstretched hands of a diving Siparuta keeper for a 2-1 lead.
Siparuta missed a penalty after the shot hit the crossbar and landed out of touch much to the dismay of their supporters.
They paid dearly for that miss and Canje was quick to capitalise as Morgan completed his brace after dispossessing a defender who was too casual with his attempted clearance and he rifled a shot past the keeper in the 72nd minute.
Once again, Siparuta showed their tenacity and pulled one back through Jordon Hesdon courtesy of a poor clearance that fell right at the feet, before he smashed it past the keeper in the 85th minute.
Amsterdam then completed his tally one minute before the end with a stinging shot past the Siparuta custodian, before the referee’s whistle sounded.
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