El Dorado picked up its first piece of silverware on the final day of competition in the Secondary Schools Football League yesterday. Facing defending champion Naparima in the Coca Cola National InterCol final, the “Bue Thunder” won 4–3 on penalty kicks at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella. It was the third successive match in which the Easterners won by that route. National call-up Shahdon Winchester denied the “Blue Thunder” from winning inside regulation time when he pulled a goal back for Naps in the second half, after Xavier Ravanales gave the visiting team the lead at the half-hour mark in the first session. The game started at a fast and furious pace with both teams looking to get the opener. A number of opportunities by both sides went abegging.

While El Do had its chances, Naps was the better-looking team, holding ball possession by stringing together a number of passes. El Do stunned the Southerners in the 30th minute when the ball came off a defender from a right side play and landed at the feet of Ravanales. Blinded by his defenders, goalkeeper Keinol Paul was unable to get to Ravanales’ shot, which went into the far post. El Do had the misfortune of losing a player four minutes later when referee Lee Davis gave marching orders to Keron Hernandez for violent conduct. Hernandez and opposing attacker Stephen Joseph were involved in a physical altercation. Joseph was hit with a yellow card for his role in the incident. Before half-time, El Do, with its ten men, withstood a couple of dangerous-looking attacks from Naps.

Six minutes into the second period, Christian Edwards, the El Do ‘keeper, made a big save to deny an Andre Matthew shot from on the edge of the six-yard box from going in. Three minutes later, Winchester sent a right foot shot just wide of the far post after getting past three defenders. Following those close shaves, Naps kept the ball in El Do’s half for long periods, and was eventually rewarded in the 71st minute. Dangerman Winchester was the marksman, squeezing the ball under Edwards from inside the 18-yard box. The goal forced El Do to come out of its defensive mood in order to find the game winner, which never came. In the resulting penalty shoot-out, Naps netted its first three kicks but was let down by Jared Bennett and Daquielle Matthews. Second kicker for El Do Daniel Cyrus missed when his shot was saved by Paul. However, the last three kickers, Harmony Munroe, Khavior Graham and Keelon Joseph scored. El Do had previously beaten Presentation and St Mary’s on penalties on its way to the final.

Members of the El Dorado East Secondary show off their delight after winning the Coca Cola InterCol national title. The ‘Blue Thunder’ dethroned Naparima on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.