Pele stun Alpha & GDF mark out Tigers – both by 3-1 margins

Dec 27, 2008 Sports

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By Franklin Wilson
‘Jackie Chan’ was in the house as well as the ‘Twin Towers’ (Charles Pollard and Howard Lowe) but the later on either side of the divide.
The ensuing battle turned out to be a scorching duel on a cold Christmas night but the heat on the pitch worked up by the players provided much needed warmth for the fans and special invitees.
And as it turned out, defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United were stunned by re-emerging KO Stars Pele 3-1 compliments of a Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson extra time double in the feature match of the double header salvo.
The early clash saw the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) caging BK International Western Tigers by a similar score line. Both winners have duly earned their semi-final places in the 19th edition of the Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament.
A sizable crowd braved what turned out to be rainy Christmas Day and many of the fans said it was perhaps the rainiest Christmas Day they have ever experienced. The dampness of the day however, never daunted the spirits of the players, playing at a venue regarded as one of the fastest drying in the world and it indeed lived up to that status with rain pouring down for hours but never threatening the evening’s activity.
Going into the match, defending champs Alpha United who had battered Cougars of Berbice 10-1 in their opening game, held the physiological advantage against Pele, who had squeezed to a 1-0 win over Linden’s Milerock on the opening day of rivalry at the MSC ground.
Both teams were boosted with the arrival of some T&T based players, Pele, adding National Captain Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard, himself and Howard Lowe, who teamed up with Alpha, regarded as the ‘Twin Towers’ in the T&T Pro League. Alpha had already secured the services of Grenadian striker Kithson Bain who proved his worth with a double against Cougars. So fans were bracing for an explosive match-up and that they got.
Pele, once regarded as the knockout kings of Guyana, departed from club policy by drafting in guest players for the first time and according to Club President Carey Jacques, it was a necessary move which paid big dividends.
If Alpha, the most successful club on local soil in 2008 felt they would have been able to impose their will on Pele they were given a rude awakening in just the 2nd minute.

Lyndon Simmonds (midfield) attacking down the left flank with Richardson pounced on a loose ball that goalkeeper Ronson Williams was not able to gather cleanly to slot home the opening goal from a tight angle, an advantage that sent the players and large fan base in a frenzy.
No doubt it was a goal that stunned Alpha but as champions they kept their composure and with the likes of Bain, Andrew Murray, Elton Brown, Dwain Jacobs and Captain Shawn Bishop in the starting eleven, they never panicked.
Unlike previous meetings between the two sides, this time the battle was well and truly on, Pollard making a marked difference in the Pele backline which has always been their weakest link, but not this time around.
Lily’s experience and high fitness level proved a big boost for Pele, King Solomon Austin and Captain Dirk Archer along with Travis Grant and Konata Manning supporting well.
Alpha kept up their offensive desires and they were duly rewarded in the 21st minute when Bain nailed the equalizer, his 3rd and final goal of the tournament.
The exchanges continued back and forth with the backline for both teams doing excellent in breaking down many promising buildups.
Alpha to their credit, created more chances but failed to convert, a situation that came back to haunt them in extra time as the deadlock was not broken in regulation time, the first game of the tournament to go this far.
It was during this period that Pele and Richardson stamped their authority. Howard Lowe was able to contain Richardson all night, but the Joe Public star, who enjoyed an excellent run of form in the CONCACAF Club Championship, finally broke loose.
He first converted a penalty 14 minutes into the 30 minutes allocated for extra time.
The sealer came four minutes before the end of the second half, Richardson collecting the ball on the right side just into the Alpha half and with his trademark ‘Jackie Chan’ like maneuvers walked through the defence including Lowe, drew Williams out of goal, left him on the right side before touching the ball into the open goal to seal a big win for Pele while ending the hopes of Alpha.
GDF imposed their will on Western Tigers in what was shaping up to be a tight encounter but after the Tigers’ main defensive weapon in captain Dillon Fraser was red carded in the 45th minute for stepping on an opposing player, their hopes of being competitive were effectively ended.
Prior to that unfortunate incident, the Tigers were matching GDF play for play. And even with ten players, the Tigers were standing up but it was just a matter of time before they cracked and when they did, goals came fast.
Stellon David broke the deadlock in the 72nd minute and seven minutes later, Warren Gilkes doubled the lead.
Maxwell Pellew was able to narrow the lead when he converted in the 87th minute but the two goal cushion was restored for the GDF one minute later through a Marlon Benjamin effort.
The final two quarter-final matches were scheduled for last evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground; Sunburst Camptown matched skills with Fruta Conquerors, while Bakewell Topp XX engaged Santos.
The semi-finals will be contested tomorrow at the National Stadium kicking off at 18:30hrs with last evening’s winners facing off.

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