Newcomers Xclusive capped off a dream debut campaign in the Anthony Wolfe Sweet 16 Football League when they defeated Eastern County United 3-2 on penalty kicks in the "Big Eight" final at the Sangre Grande Multipurpose Sporting Facility, Ojoe Road, Sangre Grande, on Saturday night.
Following a 0-0 deadlock at the end of the 90 minutes of regulation time, Xclusive got penalty-kick conversions from Nical Stephens, Keion Joseph and Kheelon Ferrier while teammates Kerin Vincent and Jamol Layne missed as they captured the $40,000 top prize.
However, only the pair of Keshon Charles and Tevin Panton scored their penalty attempts for Eastern County, with the trio of Shirlon Edwards, Jordan Ferdinand and Ceon Wight all failing to convert and having to settle for the $15,000 runner-up prize.
In the semifinals, Xclusive defeated knockout winners Turf Kings 3-0 with a goal each from Russell Alfred, Shaquille Ferrier and Dillon Gonzales.
In the other final-four clash, Eastern County got a goal each from Ferdinand, Pantor, Kriston Samuel and Jahlon Alexander in a 4-1 whipping of Love Movement, with Mikai Boney on target for the losers.
Also, on Saturday in the third-place playoff, Love Movements outlasted Turf Kings 5-4 to take home $5,000 while the latter collected $3,500.
For Love Movements, Boney, Haseem Navarro, Bernard Solomon, and Alexander got a goal each, along with an own goal from Turf Kings, while Tyrone Charles netted a hat-trick and Aikim Andrews.
In the quarterfinals, Xclusive defeated defending champions Cool It FC 2-1 with Alfred getting both goals, while outgoing champions Cool It FC got their lone item from Keron Cummings, while Eastern County got goals from Thane Devenish and Pantor to blank Coca All Stars 2-0.
In the other two matches, Turf Kings FC edged Dream 1-0 thanks to a strike from Charles, and Love Movements got the better of Ignite 5-4 on penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw.
Turf Kings cop Darryl Mahabir knockout title
Kadeem Corbin scored a pair of goals to inspire Turf Kings FC to a 4-1 whipping of Cool It FC in the final of the Anthony Wolfe Sweet 16 Football League Darryl Mahabir knockout competition on Friday night.
Alvin Jones and Kadeem Hutchinson added a goal each for the newly crowned knockout tournament winners, who walked away with the $6,000 winners’ prize, while Cool It FC got its lone item off the boot of Malick Adams, and the runner-up prize of $3,000.
In the knockout semifinals, Turf Kings battled past Xclusive 4-2 on penalty kicks after both teams fought out a pulsating 4-4 draw in their semifinal at the end of regulation time.
For Turf Kings, Jercole Pierre netted a pair of goals, with Kenton James and Alvin Jones adding one each, while Xclusive was led by a hat-trick from Stephens and a sole item from Maurice Dick.
However, in the penalty shootout that followed, Turf Kings held their nerve, with Jameel Antoine, Andrews, Jones and Caleb Sturge all scoring their attempts, while Stephens and Vincent were the only players to score for Xclusive in their first four attempts.
In the other semifinal, Cool It FC earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Ignite in their quarterfinal, then pulled the bye in the semifinal draw.
For Cool It FC, Cummings and Adams scored a goal each for the second straight match, while Ignite got their lone reply from Emmanuel Buntin.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Wolfe praised the support of his sponsors that came on board and made the staging of the league a successful one, along with the support of his committee members and the T&T Football Association (TTFA).
Individual awards
Best Defender: Perry Parris (Ignite FC) - $500
Best Goalkeeper: Thane Devenish (Eastern County United) - $500
Best Striker: Devonte Felix (Dream Team) - $500
Most Goals: Tyrone Charles (Turf Kings) - 7 goals - $500
Best Under-20 Player: Malick Adams (Cool It FC) - $500
Best Midfielder: Keron Cummings (Cool It FC) - $500
Best Goal: Russell Alfred (Xclusive) - $500
Most Discipline Team: Coca All Stars FC - $500
Best Coach: Isaiah Smith (Xclusive)
