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Somerset Eagles 2 (5) Robin Hood (4)
Somerset Eagles claimed their third Shield Trophy in dramatic fashion, defeating Robin Hood 5-4 on penalties following a pulsating 2-2 draw at the end of extra time.
Somerset Eagles Starting Line-Up: - Yizharyah Williams, Ethan Fubler, Quayan Watson (Joel Gayle 91st), Nicholas Massa, Kenhai Fray, Keanu Coddington (Zaire Smith 63rd), Matthew Groves, Rushaine Murphy (Cardel Henry 77th), Zico Saltus-Seymour, Nathan Rego, Marcus Iris-Simmons - Substitutes - Saige Hewey, Jaheim Santucci, Shaheim Wainwright, Tjay Brangman, Ki-Mori Edwards-Butterfield, Jacob Estis - Robin Hood Starting Line-Up: - Curtis Jackson, Keishen Bean, Heris Ziai (Qash Lambert (95th), Kwame Naylor, Tre Manders, Sebastian Madeiros, Tokia Bean, Xahiv Deroza, Sebastian Davis (James Cooper 64th), Kimani Davis (Michael Madeiros 59th) Tariq Bean (Keori Binns Leverock 73rd) - Substitutes: - Reza Ziai, Barrington Daryl, Tyson-Gooden, Jah’Zion Taylor, Aidan Peets, Mataeo Holder
In a final that swung back and forth, the Eagles showed nerves of steel during a marathon shootout to lift the silverware after 120 minutes of football could not separate the two sides.
Robin Hood started the brighter of the two teams, dictating the tempo through the midfield engine room of Kwame Naylor and Tre Manders. Their early pressure told in the 31st minute when Sebastian Davis' clinical finish broke the deadlock, sending Hood into the half-time interval with a deserved 1-0 lead.
The Eagles emerged for the second half with renewed intensity and were level within eight minutes of the restart. Nathan Rego continued his fine form, finding the net in the 53rd minute to shift the momentum toward the West Enders.
The turnaround seemed complete in the 65th minute when substitute Zaire Smith, who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, made an instant impact to fire Somerset Eagles into a 2-1 lead.
However, Robin Hood refused to go quietly. As the clock ticked down, fellow substitute James Cooper proved to be Hood's hero, popping up in the 80th minute to haul his side level and force the match into an additional thirty minutes.
Despite a frantic period of extra time where both teams had half-chances to snatch a winner, fatigue set in and the deadlock remained. The match moved to the dreaded kicks from the penalty mark.
The shootout was a rollercoaster of emotions. After early misses from Robin Hood's Xahiv Deroza and Sebastian Madeiros gave the Eagles an advantage, Somerset failed to convert their own late chances through Rego and Zico Saltus-Seymour, allowing Hood back into the contest.
At 4-4 in sudden death, Nicholas Massa stepped up to calmly slot home for the Eagles. The pressure then fell on Kwame Naylor, but he was unable to convert, sparking wild celebrations from the Somerset Eagles players and fans alike.
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