WITH carnival celebration in full swing, the curtain will come down this evening at the Marchand Ground in the inaugural Saint Lucia Football Association Island Cup sponsored by Windward and Leeward Brewery / Du Boulay Bottling Company.
Mabouya Valley will take on Marchand in the grand final from 8.00 p.m. The winner of that encounter will collect EC$25,000, the championship trophy and gold medals, the losing finalist will collect EC$15,000, the second place trophy and silver medals.
Before the main showpiece, patrons will witness the third place silverware between Gros Islet and Vieux Fort South scheduled at 6.00 p.m. The winner of that encounter will take home EC$10,000 and bronze medals, while the fourth place team EC$5000.
Marchand and Mabouya Valley made it to the final with wins over Gros Islet and Vieux Fort South on Wednesday evening at the same venue.
In front of a decent crowd of football fans, Mabouya Valley defeated Gros Islet 1-0 a goal scored by Vernon About in the 35th minute and despite several scoring opportunities on either end of the pitch the scoreline remained the same until the final whistle of regulation time.
In the second semifinal, powerhouse Vieux Fort South and defending Blackheart champions went down to home team Marchand 4-0, this match which offered so much in the buildup; saw the pendulum shifting to Marchand.
With both teams trying to get a foot- hold on the game, it was Marchand’s prolific goal scorer Lincoln Phillip who broke the deadlock in the 21st and despite several build up to goal by VFS strikers the scoreline remained the same at the halftime whistle.
On the resumption, VFS showed a glimpse of piling on the pressure, but Marchand stood strong in defense.
The home team extended their lead in the 65th minute as Andrus Remy found the back of the nets to make it 2-0. There was more celebration for the Marchand supporters as Valdez Maximin made it 3-0 in the 79th minute.
VFS humiliation did not end here as Lincoln Phillip 87th minute strike, his second goal of the match made it 4-0 as Marchand displayed their superiority.
The Marchand team: Lamor George, Raheim Alcindor, Andrus Remy, Ricardo Paul, Ferguson St.Clair, Mac Claude Polius, Valdez Maximin, Shem Dornely, Lincoln Phillip, Kymani Monrose, Bobby Constantine, Tasimba Alexander, Jason Sydney, Garvin St. Catherine and Cassius Phillip, Dwight Poleon, David Sam, Percius Narcisse. The Coach – Andre Antoine.
Mabouya Valley team: Curvin Jimmy, Kurdley Alexander, Mishack Louisy, Mario Daniel, Himie Faucher, Gervan Janvier, Mc Henry Alexander, Vernon Abbott, Nick Mondesir, Deaus David, Julius Louisy, Judinelle Louisy, Mickneal Kelly, Wayne Theodore, Denilson Robinson, Sherwin Simon, and Nyaime Jeremie. The Coach -Uranius Jn Baptiste.
