The eventual champions had to come from behind after San Juan opened the scoring as early as the second minute through Isaiah Chase. That lead would last until the 19th minute when Jaiye Sheppard notched a 19th -minute goal to even the scores.
The game seemed destined to remain 1-1 until at least extra time but Jardel Sinclair’s 90 +3-minutes stab home made sure the Lions would end the day as champions.
Presentation College’s Lions were the smoother team throughout but they did not strike first as San Juan’s Chase drove into the box from and struck a good drive from the right side that beat custodian Isaiah Williams all ends up and must have dented the confidence of the eventual champions.
That confidence was dented especially because it was San Juan who beat the Lions in 2016 courtesy of one goal.
But if they were to have nerves from that 2016 defeat, the Lions didn’t show it and proceeded to play the San Juan side off the park and when they struck in the 19th minute, there was no surprise.
The goal itself was beautiful, going from goalkeeper to striker in a swift but exquisite counter.
Williams bowled the ball out to his midfield where Sheppard and Ackeal Jacob combined for some slick one-two passing before the latter played through the former to guide his effort home and restore parity.
While Presentation continued to look the more likely to break the deadlock, it was not until the game was almost over and coach Shawn Cooper made some adjustments that there was any change.
According to Cooper, the decision to put Sheppard on the left side, Nkosi Charles on the right and Sinclair at striker caught San Juan off guard.
In fact, it was Charles’ cross that led to Sinclair’s stabbed home effort.
“We are feeling elated. We worked hard to be here, and in fact, nobody expected us to be here,” said Cooper after the game.
According to the coach, the early goal from San Juan made a game of the affair, as it forced his Lions to have to come out.
Cooper said his team was really happy about winning the Intercol because of the historic nature of the title for the school.
“Last year we missed out on the Premier Division, this year we missed out on the Premier Division. But I’ll take the National Intercol every time because this is one title that has eluded Presentation since I have been here. We won the Premier Division and the Big Five and now we have the Intercol. Now I think the trophy cabinet is full,” he said.
