Harry Pearson is shoot-out hero as County Londonderry stun Manchester United in Premier Section
County Londonderry’s players celebrate their penalty shoot-out win over Manchester United
Harry Pearson celebrates
There will be a new name etched on the SuperCupNI Premier trophy after County Londonderry and Tigres UANL from Mexico sealed their place in the decider.
Marty Smith’s Londonderry side pulled off the shock of the tournament to beat a strong Manchester United side on penalties at a raucous Coleraine Showgrounds.
The north-west boys were 1-0 down after a Shea Lacey penalty in the first-half Alfie Friars equalised with a brilliant header from a corner in injury time.
In what was a feisty encounter goal scorer Lacey and Nathaniel Mapengu were sent off for the Red Devils who failed to keep their cool unlike Londonderry who scored all four of their penalties to book their place in the final.
Harry Pearson was the hero for shoot-out hero for Londonderry, saving James Bailey’s penalty before Jayce Fitzgerald missed to seal the win.
Sadly there won’t be an all-county final at the Ballymena Showgrounds after County Antrim were on the wrong end of penalty drama in Ballymoney.
Mexican side Tigres edged the shoot-out 5-3 after the game finished 1-1 in normal time.
Tigres led at the break through Gustavo Gonzalez before Ryan Donnelly equalised in the second-half to take the game to penalties.
Londonderry will now try to pull off another shock when they face Tigres with the silverware on the line, with the final having a 6pm kick-off.
There was an all-county clash in the Globe semi-final with County Tyrone coming out the victors over County Down.
A brace from Calum Lenehan-Hunter helped his side beat Down 4-1 at Parker Avenue. This win tees up a Globe final against Rangers after they defeated Japanese side Ichifuna 4-2.
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