THE National Under-20 Team is the champion of the 2018 Blackheart Big 8 Tournament, with a stroke of luck complemented with two spectacular saves between the uprights by Vino Bartlette, in two consecutive penalty shootouts.
It was no surprise, therefore, as he was Saint Lucia’s goalkeeper at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Bahamas when team Saint Lucia defeated Trinidad and Tobago in the final to win the gold medal.
The under – 20 team on their way to winning the $5000; on Saturday defeated Anse la Raye 1-0.
In the semifinal on Sunday, they defeated Mabouya Valley 3-2 in a penalty shootout and in the final they nosed ahead of Vieux Fort South, the favourites defeating them 7-6 in a nail biting penalty shootout after the scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of regulation time.
VFS had played undefeated through the qualifiers. Dillon Henry found the back of the net for VFS in the second half; Zaine Amedee found the much deserved equalizer in the dying minutes of this encounter after a poor goalkeeping error by the Vieux Fort custodian.
Meanwhile, the playoff kicks off tomorrow at two venues; the two top teams of the four teams will advance to complete the list of the 16 teams eligible for the Blackheart Championship scheduled to commence on Saturday 15th September.
In the Western Leg, Soufriere plays South Castries at the Anse la Raye field; while in the Eastern Leg, Mon Repose will clash with Desruisseaux at the Micoud playing field from 4.00 p.m.
The full story in Thursday 6th edition of the VOICE.
