THE stage is now set for the third place play off and finals of the Saint Lucia Football Association Inter- District National Under 23 tournament scheduled for the Anse la Raye playing field this evening.
For the third place playoff, Dennery will take on Desruisseaux from 5:00p.m., while Canaries will come up against Vieux Fort South (VFS) in the final two hours later.
Tonight’s event is dubbed a “Western and Southern Zone Derby” and is a replica of their senior counterparts of the blackheart finals. The Canaries/Vieux Fort South match is expected to be keenly contested as both teams have a number of formidable national players on their roster.
It is rather too early to determine or predict which team will emerge champion this time around, but for the many football enthusiasts travelling from near and far to take in the showpiece they can rest assured this one will go down to the wire.
The VFS team reads: Sarn Savery, Leon Alexander, Gregson President, Antonio Joseph, Antonius Joseph, Trystan St. Louis, Paulsen Joseph, Jevic Mc Farlane, Sherman Doxilly, Delon Neptune, Kimlan Mason, Shervin George, Alexis Lionel and Adrian Henry.
The Canaries team: Donavan Jn Baptiste, Elias Jones, Fanis Felix, Deneshe Duncan, Antoine Wilfred, Anthony Prospere, Reynold Andrew, Glen St. John, Caius Eugene, Zackie Fredrick, Keeroy Lionel, Jurell Mathurin, Joseph Felix, DhrivJn Baptiste, Enrique Lansiquot and Vycasy Estaphane.
Meanwhile, Vieux Fort South maintained their inter district under-23 dominance of Saint Lucia Football Association championship last weekend at the La Clery playing field with a 4-2 win over Dennery.
Servin George put VFS ahead in the 32nd minute, while Jamie Prospere equalise for Dennery in the 35th minute of play to leave the halftime score 1-1.
On the resumption following the halftime break, Dennery went on to extend their lead as Jamie Prospere scored his second of the match in the 49th minute.
VFS was never daunted as they slowly build up their momentum and in so doing Antonius Mayers’ 69th minute goal equalised the score line.
From here on it was all to play for, VFS Adrian Henry made it 3-1 in the 71st minute, while Poleon Neptune 77th minute strike was enough to see them secure another final berth at the national level.
In game one, played between Desruisseaux and Canaries, Canaries nosed ahead 2-1 in a penalty shootout after the scores were locked 2 -2 after regulation time.
Canaries took the lead in the 24th minute when Donavan Jn Baptiste found the back of the nets. Cletus Esnard equalised for Desruisseaux in the 33rd minute and that’s how the score line remained up until the halftime whistle of Referee Edmund Smith.
On the resumption with both teams eying a final spot, Desruisseaux was off the blocks in a flash and in so doing Ectus Edward scored his second of the match in the 56th minute.
With time running out, Canaries up the tempo a few notches and in so doing with two minutes left in regulation time (88th) Elias Jones found the back of the nets to equalised.
In the penalty shootout, Canaries nosed ahead 4-2 with goals from Antoine Wilfred, Donavan Jn Baptiste, Reynold Andrew, Fanis Felix, while Keeroy Lionel failed to score.
For Desruisseaux, the penalty goal scorers were Jamal Francis, KimmalAgelie; while Mickey Wilfred and LeanausPoleon fail to hit their target.
