Naparima College secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against St Augustine Secondary in the Coca-Cola Intercol semifinal at Ato Boldon Stadium on December 5, keeping their ambitious triple crown pursuit alive. The decisive moment arrived in the 55th minute when star striker Riquelme Phillips converted a penalty kick with clinical precision, slotting the ball into the lower right corner as goalkeeper Tyrese Henry dove in the opposite direction.
The match showcased contrasting styles, with Naparima dominating possession and creating numerous scoring opportunities throughout the contest. Phillips, along with attacking midfielder Jacob O’Reilly and winger Arron Raymond, consistently threatened St Augustine’s defense with penetrating runs and multiple attempts on goal. However, Henry delivered an exceptional performance between the posts, making several crucial saves to keep his team in contention.
St Augustine, nicknamed the ‘Green Machine,’ mounted intense pressure in the final 15 minutes, displaying remarkable resilience despite being outplayed for much of the match. Captain Giovanni Hospedales led the offensive surge alongside Elijah Baptiste and substitute Jayden Solozano, but they struggled to break through Naparima’s organized defensive wall comprising Antonio Hills, Elijah Edwards, and Sebastian James.
The penalty decision proved controversial, awarded after an in-swinging corner bounced awkwardly and struck St Augustine defender Mikel Murray on the arm. Despite the setback, St Augustine’s late aggressive push nearly produced an equalizer, creating tense moments for Naparima coach Angus Eve on the sidelines.
With this victory, Naparima moves one step closer to achieving a historic triple crown, having already secured the SSFL league title and South zone Intercol championship earlier this season.