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Western Bureau:
It took extra-time and sudden-death penalties to decide the games, but defending champions St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Manchester High School have earned the right to contest this Saturday's Ben Francis KO final after emerging victorious from yesterday's semi-final games.
STETHS defeated reigning daCosta Cup champions Rusea's, in sudden-death penalties, after they had battled to 1-1 regulation and extra-time stalemate.
Manchester High clipped Paul Bogle 1-0 in the first period of extra-time in their game at the Juici Patties Complex in Clarendon.
In their much-hyped game at Jarrett Park, Rusea's took a first half lead from the penalty spot through skipper Nicodie Haughton, but STETHS found a second half equaliser through Levaughn Baker to end regulation play at 1-1.
"This win takes us one step closer to retaining our title and we are very pleased about that," said STETHS coach Andrew Edwards.
"Our plan is to win all three titles (daCosta Cup, Ben Francis Cup and Olivier Shield) this season and I believe we are on course."
In their game against Paul Bogle, Manchester were held to a regulation time 0-0 scoreline but the deadlock was broken in the first period of extra-time when Shealdo Parkes scored the game's lone goal in the 95th minute.
"Reaching this final is a very good feeling because we have been working very hard in our preparations," said Manchester High's coach Sheldon Davis.
"We will celebrate today but it will be back to work tomorrow because we intend to be at our best in the final."
In the game at Jarrett Park, STETHS appeared the more composed of the two teams from the outset and even after they were reduced to ten men after Rodney Witter was red-carded in the second half, they continued to play as though they were at full strength.
After surviving good chances by STETHS in the second and 22nd minutes when top marksman Kevon Farquharson threatened the Rusea's goal twice, Rusea's got a penalty in the 27th minute from Brian Brown who was fouled just outside the goal and skipper Haughton made no mistake from the penalty spot, making the score 1-0.
Rusea's should have doubled their lead in the 32nd minute when Keanu Williams got away before the goal, but had his shot deflected by an alert defender.
STETHS got and wasted a glorious chance in the 39th minute when a ball rebounded into the path of Akeem Jones, but he fired straight at the goalkeeper from six yards. The half ended without further action of note.
STETHS started the second half all out in attack and just missed drawing level in the 47th minute. Jones got away just outside the area but he was denied by a brilliant save by Richard Trench in goal for Rusea's.
With STETHS looking increasingly ominous with each attack and with Rusea's under serious pressure, STETHS found the equaliser in the 62nd minute. A melee developed before the Rusea's goal and the alert Baker fired home gleefully, making the score 1-1.
Despite being reduced to ten men, when Witter was red-carded, STETHS was always in control and had it not been for some good defending by the Rusea's team, they probably would have won the game in regulation time.
