AIA, Irwin to battle for Sandals U-17 football title
TUCKER, St James — Athletes In Action (AIA) and Irwin Academy will meet in the final of the St James Football Association/Sandals Resorts International Under 17 finals, after both scored come-from-behind semi-finals wins at Wespow Park on Saturday.
AIA came from a goal down to beat St James High 4-2 on penalty kicks while Irwin Academy beat Green Pond High 2-1, and both will meet in the final that will be played next month.
In the first game of the double-header St James High took an early lead over AIA when Jaleel Barnett scored in the fifth minute.
AIA created a number of chances but had to wait until the 70th minute — when Raheem Lee dribbled from close to the centre circle, rounded the goalkeeper, and fired into an unprotected goal — to level the score.
After 20 minutes of extra time failed to produce a winner the game went to penalty kicks which AIA won, thanks to successful kicks from Lee, Nickane Brown, Romario Collins and Deshaun Talbert, while Kayvon Donaldson and Reevado DaCosta scored for St James High as Sanjay Reece and Barnett both missed.
Green Pond, who were beaten 2-0 last week by Irwin Academy in their final regular season game, took the lead in the 14th minute when Dasshaun Barrett scored.
Irwin Academy stormed back late in the game as Kevin Wright converted a penalty in the 67th minute before Mark Buddie scored the winner in time added.