DEFENDING champions El Ninos FC retained the 2018 Desruisseaux Football League/ Saint Lucia Football Association Promotional Cup championship for the third consecutive year on Sunday afternoon when they defeated Diamond Ballers FC 2-1 in front of a crowd close to 1500 spectators at the Desruisseaux playing field.
It was the challengers who drew first blood as their talisman Lamar Serieux converted from the penalty spot in the 13th minute making it 1-0 in favour of Diamond Ballers. Despite numerous scoring opportunities on both ends of the pitch by either team the first half ended 1-0.
At the resumption and with their crowd support behind them, El Ninos FC came out firing on all cylinders in search of the equalizer but was frustrated by some brilliant defending by Diamond Ballers FC. Half way through Diamond Ballers went into a defensive mood, but that tactic proved costly as El Ninos FC found the back of the nets from the tournaments leading goal scorer Gerlannie Neptune, in the 74th minute to make it 1-1 to the delight of their supporters and it was game on from here.
Shortly after, things got worse for Diamond Ballers FC as Gerlannie would score his team’s second goal in the 79th minute giving El Ninos FC a 2-1 advantage. Despite Diamond Ballers FC desperate fight the two times defending champions kept their cool making it three times in a row.
In the third place silverware played at 2.00 p.m. La CourVille FC defeated Dx United 3 -1 in a penalty shootout after the scores were locked 1-1 at regulation time.
La CourVille FC got on the score sheet as early as the 6th minute with a goal from Jacob Augustin. Dx United thought they had the equalizer in the 35th after being awarded a penalty but that was missed by Quincy Francis. No further goals were scored as the half ended 1-0.
On the resumption La CourVille defended desperately to protect their one nil advantage but DX United got away through with a goal from Anthony Griffith in the 85th minute sending the game into a penalty shootout.
Also on Sunday following the finals, the draw for the knockout competition took place and this will feature the top eight teams in the league.
The participating teams are: TFC, La CourVille FC, Lion Heart, Diamond Ballers FC, El Ninos FC, Green Monsters FC, Dx United and Blanchard United.
The following match ups will be played in the upcoming weeks – La CourVille FC versus Dx United; Diamond Ballers FC versus Lion Heart; El Ninos FC versus Blanchard United and TFC versus Green Monsters.