The Saint Lucia Sports Academy (SLSA) delivered an exceptional performance, defeating the Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School (LHCSS) to secure the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports Under-16 Secondary Schools’ Football championship title.
In a thrilling match held at the Saint Lucia Football Association (SLFA) Technical Center in Grande Riviere, Dennery, on June 13, SLSA triumphed over LHCSS with a score of 3-2.
After a tight 2-2 score in the latter session, SLSA captain Leon Vidal etched his name in the annals of school football with a second goal to lead his team to victory.
SLSA quickly established their dominance with an early goal from Merlan Cools, striking in the 7th minute to set the tone for the match. Vidal doubled the lead in the 18th minute, showcasing SLSA’s commanding presence on the field.
Despite this early setback, LHCSS demonstrated resilience, with Amari Plummer finding the back of the net in the 36th minute, bringing his team back into contention by halftime.
With the championship title on the line, both teams engaged in an intense battle. LHCSS kept the pressure on as Zehniel Micheau equalized in the 78th minute, leveling the score at 2-2.
However, with just two minutes remaining, SLSA’s captain Vidal seized the moment, scoring the crucial winning goal in the 81st minute. This strike not only secured the victory for SLSA but also silenced the spirited LHCSS crowd, as SLSA executed a brilliant counterattack.
At the post-match awards ceremony, Leon Vidal stood out, collecting multiple accolades:
– Best Midfielder, MVP of the Final, and MVP of the Tournament.
Other notable performers included:
– Jevonte Toussaint (LHCSS) – Best Goalkeeper
– Janai Mathurin (SLSA) – Best Defender
– Mickel Mitchel (Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School) – Most Goals