10 Man Fatima see off Mucurapo; Fatima 2 - 1 Mucurapo

The North Zone Title goes down to the wire after Fatima College defeated neighbors Mucurapo Secondary 2-1 today at Fatima Grounds.

Fatima put on a thrilling show for their fans after going down a man and having to come from behind in order to defeat North Zone leaders.

Substitute Anselm 'Worm' Jackson was the hero for Fatima with a thrilling winner just seconds before the referee blew for full time, keeping his team's title hopes alive.

A draw would have been enough for 'Compre' to wrap up the 2008 North Zone Title but they will have to wait until Saturday to know if they will be crowned champions.

The first half ended goalless despite both teams coming close during the opening period.

Mucurapo's Jeovan Jones rocketed a shot toward goal and John Thomas in the Fatima goal was lucky to see it smack off the upright after he was beaten outright.

On the other end, Phillip Coker terrorized the Mucurapo defense and he also hit the woodwork with a cheeky backheel flick off of a Kern Robinson corner. It would surely have been one of the goals of the season had it gone in.

Both sets of fans continued to be entertained after the half time interval. Quinton Williams of Fatima was foolishly sent off in the 55th minute after lashing out at an opponent.

In the 61st minute Mucurapo made the man advantage count when Terrance Clarke was found on the edge of the penalty area virtually unmarked after a surging Mucurapo counter attack. The youngster controlled the ball and unleashed a powerful shot past the outstretched arms of Thomas to give his team the 1-0 lead.

Many would have written off Fatima's chances for a comeback at this stage, but the team never gave up.

Nine minutes later they equalized through Chad De Freitas when he picked up the ball in the box and turned neatly and blasted a shot low and away from Michael Duff to pull his team level.

Mucurapo would have settled for the draw, but Fatima continued to press for the winner. In the dying seconds of the game their supporters' prayers were answered when Anselm Jackson got to a ball at the edge of the penalty area and shot low and towards the far post past the diving Duff and into the back of the net.

Jackson's goal keeps his team's 2008 North Zone title hopes alive, although Mucurapo are still very much in the driver's seat with a far superior goal difference to Fatima and a game in hand to Trinity. A draw would most likely still be enough to claim the title.

Fatima face a tricky home encounter against QRC on Saturday 11th Oct and need to win in order to have any chance at winning the North Zone league title.

Justin Henry

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