Third place showdown … Annai hold nerve for 4-3 penalty win

ANNAI Secondary School held their nerve to pull off a 4-3 penalty win over Waramadong Secondary and cart off the third-place spot in the 2015 Digicel Schools Football Championship at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence yesterday. Annai looked the better team with more technical plays and were rewarded in the second minute after a routine Sheral Daniels shot pierced the goalie. Annai had the advantage and continued to look for more goals, eventually finding the second in the 28th minute.
Daniels completed his brace in a comfortable manner to put Annai on course for what seemed an easy win. However, Waramadong returned in added time before the close of the first half to convert a penalty thanks to Deon Rodrigues.
The second 45 minutes saw a rejuvenated Waramadong side who equalised on the first run down. Anzal Medina scored the equalising effort which sent Annai once again in search of the lead, but several chances were blocked by the goalkeeper.
Waramadong, on a streak after scoring two quick-fire goals in each half led for the first time after Medina again powered one home in the 64th minute. With Waramadong leading, Annai threw their everything into the game to secure an equaliser and eventually found the back of the net in the 82nd minute, thanks to Triston Daniels. No further goals were scored sending the game into penalty kicks.
Annai scored their first, third, fourth and fifth efforts from the spot while Waramadong converted their first, second and last, leaving Annai to savour the win.
Speaking after the game, Annai coach Kelly Brasch indicated that the result pleased him especially with this being his debut year as a coach. “This is my first time as a coach, coaching any team. It made me feel happy. Knowing that I’m not an experienced coach and probably the youngest coach in the tournament, bringing us to this level of the tournament has given me much encouragement for next year.”
He indicated that he did not feel his team needed a penalty result to secure a win and had several moments where he held his breath.
“At first it was kind of hard for me to digest that we had to go to the penalty shootout but when I saw my goalie snatch one out of the air, it brought back the encouragement that we were going to win.”
All in all however, coach Brasch is satisfied with the result and has thanked Digicel for bringing the tournament to the Hinterland region.

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