Spectators were either or the edge of their seats or moved to their feet in excitement on Sunday, as the quarterfinal round of the Massy Distribution Schools’ Under-18 Football tournament took centre stage at the Queen’s College Ground in Georgetown.
Charlestown Secondary were the first team to punch their ticket to the next round, enduring a tense penalty shootout against New Amsterdam Secondary.
The tension blossomed since the first half, as neither side was able to find the back of the net. However, in the second half, Adion Marks broke the ice for Charlestown in the 60th minute. That was met with an immediate response off the boots of New Amsterdam’s Domonique Rodrigues in the 62nd minute.
Omari Cassius made it 2-1 in Charlestown’s favour by the 70th minute, but again, New Amsterdam levelled the scores, this time through Clevon Cort in the 72nd to ensure a 2-2 score at the end of regulation time.
The contest eventually boiled down to penalties, through which Charlestown prevailed 3-1 for the win.
Then, Chase’s Academic Foundation continued their stellar run in the competition with a massive 9-2 drubbing of Region Seven’s Three Miles Secondary. Chase was met with some resistance early on as Lebron Mendonca netted a brace in the 7th and 31st minutes, responding to three early goals from Chase – one apiece from Mark Glasgow (3rd); Shaquan David (15th) and Nyron Barrow (21st).
The 2025 runners-up then launched an all-out onslaught. Glasgow completed his hat-trick in the 42nd and 44th minutes while David did the same in the 45th and 57th. Barrow added another strike for a brace in the 55th. In addition, solitary strikes came off the boots of Germaine Garrett (37th), Micah Boodie (60th) and Jaden Christian (62nd) to complete the nine-goal haul.
Santa Rosa were the next team to secure their semifinal spot, cruising past Annandale Secondary 3-1. Santa Rosa struck first through Shane James in the ninth minute, but Annandale’s Ronoko Morris found the back of the net in the 27th to level the scores.
