ExxonMobil U18 Football Championships: Eight teams secure quarter-final berths

Four boys’ teams and four girls’ teams have secured places in the quarter-finals of the ExxonMobil Under-18 Football Championships following the opening round of 16 matches in Groups One and Two.

Dolphin Secondary, Friendship Secondary, Chase’s Academic Foundation, and Santa Rosa Secondary advanced in the boys’ competition, while Marian Academy, Friendship Secondary, Chase’s Academic Foundation, and Waramuri Secondary progressed in the girls’ division. The matches were played at Queenstown Ground on the Essequibo Coast and Queen’s College Ground in Georgetown.

Chase’s Academic Foundation recorded the biggest boys’ victory, defeating De Willem Secondary 7-0 in Group Two. Jashan Haynes scored twice, while Daniel Chesney, Fabio Kowlessar, Aaron Vasconcellos, Dance Vancooten, and Brendan Parks added one goal each. Santa Rosa Secondary also advanced from Group Two with a 6-0 win over Abram Zuil Secondary. Lando Williams led the scoring with a hat-trick, supported by one goal apiece from Jason John, Cy Edwards, and Jay DeSouza.

In the Group One boys’ matches, Dolphin Secondary overcame Mackenzie High School 5-3. Seon Grant scored twice for Dolphin, with Omari Nascimento, Jamal Harlequin, and Ranny Yaw contributing one goal each. Kemanny McKenzie, Keimal Gishard, and Linden Hayne scored for Mackenzie High.

Friendship Secondary joined Dolphin in the quarter-finals after beating Queen’s College 4-0. Brandon Bruce netted twice, while Jerome Johnson and Jermane Rajkumar scored once each.

In the girls’ competition, Marian Academy defeated Dolphin Secondary 5-1 to advance from Group One. Ella Fernandes and Sariah Samaroo each scored twice, while Skylar DeNobrega added the other goal. Ariel Farley scored Dolphin’s lone goal. Friendship Secondary secured the other Group One girls’ quarter-final place with a 2-1 victory over Mackenzie High. Amina Scott scored both goals for Friendship, while Aquila Heyliger was on target for Mackenzie High.

The Group Two girls’ matches ended with Chase’s Academic Foundation beating Abram Zuil Secondary 5-0 and Waramuri Secondary defeating Vreed-en-Hoop Secondary 4-0, securing their places in the final eight.