Vaz vanquish Ardenne to keep slim semi-final hopes alive in Alberga Cup

Vaz Prep school kept their slim hopes of a place in the semi-finals of the Tastee/JISA Alberga Cup football competition alive on Monday when they turned back the challenge of a determined Ardenne Prep team at the UWI Bowl in the feature game of a double header.

Both teams entered the game desperate for a win, after losing their respective opening round games in the quarter finals and aware that anything other than three points would effectively mean an end to their season.

Ardenne was denied the go ahead goal in the third minute when Vaz Prep goalkeeper Jalen Young clawed the ball off the line when it appeared destined to go in. Young made a quick release and Vaz countered down the left through Iyari Harris whose shot across the face of the goal was just out of the reach of a fast arriving Daniel Williams.

With five minutes on the clock Vaz was ahead as Williams was on hand to tuck home the rebound from a shot on the left by Mathieu Rose.

Both teams traded attacks before Ardenne took control of the game. They made a series of attacks and came close on three occasions before Nicolai Lawson slammed home the inevitable equalizer eight minutes before the break.

Jahvier Lynch, who had missed a couple of opportunities for Vaz earlier in the game and had a goal ruled out for offside as well made, no mistake a minute before half time. He collected a ball from inside his half and took off ahead of the Ardenne defence before rounding the keeper and slamming home to make it 2-1 at the interval.

Vaz struck the hammer blow a minute after the restart when Lynch got his second of the game, firing home a free kick into the roof of the net past the outstretched hands of Andre Mills in goal.

Both teams created further opportunities in the game with Lynch being guilty of misses when one-on-one with the keeper at least twice in the second half.

Young was called into action on a couple of occasions for Vaz as well but neither team was able to add to their goal tally and the game ended 3-1 in favour of Vaz who must now beat favourites Hydel by two clear goals and hope other results go their way to win the group.