Warwick Football Academy 2 PHC 1

An entertaining, keenly contested Leonard DeRoza Holder Under-15 Knockout title match was won by Warwick Football Academy.

Sami Carolo produced a virtuoso performance for the victors, playing a hand in both goals, scoring one before placing the winner on a plate for D’hari Coddington.

Carolo, an attack-minded midfield schemer was an uncontrollable force throughout the encounter with his vision and pinpoint passing on the ball superior in design and execution, while his expertise with set-pieces ultimately devastated the young Zebras.

Carolo’s dead-ball prowess first came to light in the 33rd minute when he launched a blistering free kick from 20 yards to leave PHC goalkeeper Jahneel Maria watching its vapour trail as it rocketed past, giving Warwick the lead at half-time.

Yet the Zebras were unbowed, returning fire eight minutes after the break when their best player, Harlem Bean-Fox, converted from close range.

After both teams engaged in a 21 minute stand-off, a left-wing corner set the stage for Coddington to produce the final heroics on a play scripted by Carolo, who picked out the lanky forward within a maze of attackers running from deep. Coddington used every ounce of his speed and desire to get to the ball before defenders could react to crash in a powerful header.

“The second goal we just rushed the box,” Coddington said.

“Obviously it was a great cross from my partner here, so all I had to do was head it in.”

This was a fourth win for Warwick in the last five years but they had surrendered the titla a year ago and Coddington was pleased to have helped regain the crown.

“As we were going to the game we talked about our achievements and what we wanted to do, and we did it,” Coddington said

For his part, Carolo explained how he saw the need to find a way to propel his side forward in the first half, with the free kick presenting the perfect opportunity.

“On the first one I thought, ‘this one needs to go in, we need a boost,’” said Carolo.

“We weren’t playing as we should in the first half. We were too reserved almost, so I was trying to bring our spirits up and drag us more into the game.

“On the second one, I knew I had got two assists from corners during our last match, so I just looked to do the same with the cross, put it in the middle of the box, and goal.”

Proud of his young charges was coach Keishon Smith, who effused praise for the accomplishment of reclaiming their position as the competition’s champions.

“In the last five years we’ve won this trophy four times, including four times in a row before losing it last year,” Smith said.

“Today it was about us coming back and putting our hands on the silverware. We didn’t play as we could have, but that’s how cup finals go. In the end the team stuck together, showed good team spirit and so we march on.

“Sami produced a class free-kick for the first goal. It had power, pace, vision and is something we work on. We work on set-pieces a lot and when we were down in the semi-final, two set-pieces got us back.”