Latest update January 6th, 2025 4:00 AM
Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition…Chase Academy retain title in penalty shootout
-Masters finish third
Defending champion Chase Academy retained their title after securing a 3-2 win in a penalty shootout in the final of this year’s Milo 18 and under Schools Football Competition which concluded yesterday, at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Milo Brand Manager Renita Sital hands over the winning trophy to Chase Academy’s captain Kelsey Benjamin in the presence of teammates yesterday.
Played before a massive crowd, touted to be the biggest in the competition’s history, the much vaunted Chase Academy were pushed to the brink by a determined and well prepared Morgan’s Learning Centre in an epic game that finished 1-1 at the end of regulation and overtime.
The game was a fitting conclusion to a tournament that will surely help produce quality players in the future.
Morgan’s Learning Centre took the lead in the 15th minute through a spectacular left-foot missile from Chris Macey from a tight angle on the left flank that raced into the roof of the net to send their cheerleaders and supporters into frenzy.
Not accustomed to playing catch up, Chase Academy seemed unusually unsettled, but somehow weathered the storm and even had opportunities to level with the crossbar coming to the rescue of Morgan’s on one occasion.
They looked particularly dangerous on set pieces with their lanky defenders causing havoc in those situations and it was one such play that earned them the equalizer.
It came from a corner taken on the right side which was sent in on the back post and Shomol Smith leaped high above the Morgan’s backline to deliver a cracking header past the goalkeeper in the 26th minute.
Buoyed by the leveler, Chase found another gear and created chance after chance, but somehow failed to breach the goalkeeper’s outstanding efforts.
The half came with no addition to the scoreline and the fans braced themselves for a riveting final period showdown.
However, the pace of the game slowed down as both teams searched for goals from counterattacks, but again the defence was superb.
After eighty minutes and an extra ten in overtime it was left to a penalty shootout to determine the outcome and Chase got home following some magnificent goalkeeping to keep their title.
It was another example of high quality football at the junior level and augurs well for the future of the sport here.
In the third place playoff, Masters Academy who many felt were unfortunate not to be in the championship game inflicted a 5-1 drubbing on Sir Leon’s Lessons.
Calvin Peters netted in the 4th, 75th and 88th minutes, while Tyrone Khan added a brace in the 73rd and 81st minutes to complete their tally.
Omari James was the lone response for Sir Leon Lessons in the 20th.
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