Jardel Sinclair may have scored the most important goal of his entire life yesterday.
Although it wasn’t anything spectacular, his simple tap in from N’Kosi Charles’ right-side centre in the 94th minute, earned Presentation College, San Fernando their first-ever Coca Cola National InterCol title with a come-from-behind 2-1 win over San Juan North Secondary at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
The win was also sweet revenge for the southerners, who were beaten by San Juan in 2016 final.
A tearful Pres coach Shawn Cooper said afterwards that it took years and months of hard work but they were finally able to get the job done.
The southerners had been the winners of numerous South Zone InterCol and national league titles previously, but the National InterCol had always eluded them, at least until the multi-talented Sinclair was taken in at the institution and broke the jinx yesterday.
San Juan North, beaten by Presentation in the Premier Division of the SSFL, forged ahead when a throw-in from the left side reached an unmarked Renaldo Boyce in the Pres area in the fourth minute. Boyce collected the throw-in and quickly released to Isaiah Chase, who hit hard and low shot past Pres goalkeeper Isaiah Williams for the 1-0 advantage.
Cooper’s attempt to avoid being beaten twice by San Juan in the final received a major dent at this point.
However, his team settled quickly and was rewarded after a series of attacks on the San Juan goal. Hardworking striker Ackeel Jacob was released down the left flank and he quickly centred for the unmarked Jaiye Sheppard to steer home in the 19th minute.
Pres, who dethroned Naparima College for the 2019 South Zone InterCol crown, had only themselves to blame for not taking the lead in the moments that followed. Sinclair’s acrobatic attempt from Jacob’s lifted pass in the box sailed overbar in the 36th minute. Then Sheppard, who was picked out all alone in the box from a right-side cross, put his header wide with the goal at his mercy.
The scores thus remained 1-1 at the half and when play resumed, Pres launched yet another attack at goal, sending the speedy Sinclair down the right flank to centre for Naim Bisnath to hit an uncontrolled left-footed effort over the crossbar.
The game appeared to be heading for a penalty shoot-out until substitute Charles, following a god bit of skill on the right side, pulled a cross-back for Sinclair to guide into the goal for the winner in the fourth minute of time added on for stoppages and send the southern crowd into wild celebrations.
However, before the end could have been signalled, referee Crystal Sobers had to produce red cards for Presentation’s Jacob and Justin Cornwall, as well as San Juan’s Elisha Garcia for unsportsmanlike conduct.
RESULT
PRESENATION COLLEGE 2 (Jaiya Sheppard 19th, Jardel Sinclair 91st) v SAN JUAN NORTH 1 (Isaiah Chase 4th)