Over the weekend, the country’s top four Under-20 teams faced off in the semifinals of the Blackheart / Saint Lucia Football Association Knockout Football Tournament. La Clery and Vieux Fort South both won tight games to book their spots in the finals, set for next weekend at Soufrière Stadium. Both matchups were repeats of zonal finals from earlier this year.
On Saturday in Soufrière, Vieux Fort South beat the Southern Zone winners and home team Soufrière 2-1. Obafami Poyotte scored first for the visitors in the 21st minute, but Cassian Jn Baptiste equalised just before halftime.
The game was close, with neither side able to take charge. With thirteen minutes left, Kelvin Sylvester of Vieux Fort made a smart run, pulled the Soufrière goalkeeper out, and scored the winner.
On Sunday at the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds, the zonal champions and home team Gros Islet suffered another tough loss.
Despite missing key midfielder Shevon Byron, suspended after a red card in the quarterfinals, the home team controlled much of the game, especially in the first half. Still, the score remained 0-0 at halftime.
A second-half substitution paid off for Gros Islet when Rickelme Lionel scored from a strong cross in the 70th minute.
Gros Islet dominated possession with intricate passing, using the width of the pitch, but a La Clery counter earned them a corner four minutes into added time. Alex Devaux profited from the opportunity to knot the scores, and the La Clery keeper got a massive stop to win the penalty shootout 5-4.
“This weekend was a superific weekend,” said Blackheart CEO David “Shakes” Christopher. “Soufrière lost, unfortunately, down in Soufrière, but it was a real thrilling match against Vieux Fort South. Then we come up here to Gros Islet; we saw La Clery edging out Gros Islet at home in a very tight, intriguing match.
On Saturday, June 20, at Soufrière Stadium, La Clery will face Vieux Fort South for the title and a $30,000 prize. Soufrière will play Gros Islet for third place. Christopher told St Lucia Times that making this 26th edition of the tournament an Under-20 event has turned out to be the right move.
“It was a good experience, a new experience, and it’s a new vision,” he said. “I think people reacted really nicely to the vision; they embraced it. We saw a massive attendance in Soufrière [and Gros Islet]. And I think the football future in Saint Lucia is in good hands, and we need to come out and support these young men.
“We need to call on corporate Saint Lucia, though, to come on board still and support these young men. Come with prizes; it’s the finals of this tournament. We may not have a big ham, but you may have a slice. So, put something on the table, make some donations, make some prizes, and let’s have a wonderful finals.”
