Pele bang Uprising 11-2, GDF beat Rhythm Squad 4-3 on penalties

Apr 05, 2009 Sports

By Franklin Wilson

Pele’s Sheldon Holder (left) about to complete his hat-trick against Uprising yesterday.

Pele pulverized Uprising, banging their way to a whopping 11-2 win and a semi-final place when the Georgetown Football Association Milo under-21 tournament continued yesterday with the first set of quarter-final matches at the Camptown ground, Campbellville.
The afternoon’s opening game was a tight affair between the Guyana Defence Force and Rhythm Squad, the Army needing penalty kicks to stave off the determined efforts of the challengers. They eventually prevailed 4-3 on penalty kicks following a 0-0 score line in regulation and extra time.

Rensford Coolridge

Both Pele and the GDF advanced to the semi-finals scheduled for Wednesday at the Tucville ground.
Pele, who dominated the Uprising line up were led to their massive win with a hat-trick of goals from Sheldon Holder who made light work of the weak Uprising defence and the lack of effort from their custodian, Jelani Hazel.
Holder was on target in the 28th, 55th and 58th minute. Rensford Coolridge (6 & 24) netted a first half double as he too, enjoyed the party.
From the word go, Pele, boasting a number of players who represent them at the Premier League level, signaled their no nonsense attitude when Okeny Fraser blasted goal number one past Hazel a mere two minutes into the encounter.
From here on in it was just a matter of the blue and yellow team finding their way into the attacking third as they found it easy to execute, once there. Calvin Shepherd added his name to the scoring list three minutes before half time.
After the break, Stephon Bourne in the 50th made good on a rebound from a penalty after goal keeper Shemroy Arthur’s shot was blocked momentarily by Hazel. Omallo Williams with a ripping left foot shot just outside the area accounted for goal number nine in the 71st minute.
Rawle Adams was on target four minutes later with Keoma Gravesande netting goal number 11 in the 81st.
Uprising were however able to pull back a brace, John Fecker (18) and Jevon Armstrong (69) salvaging some pride for them.
The opening game in contrast, saw a goal drought as neither team was able to penetrate the others defence.
Their quest for a semi-final place was eventually left solely in the hands of the goalkeepers and this proved to be the deciding factor as GDF’s Akel Clarke, who came on as a substitute in the second half of extra time for starting goalie Delon Young, took his side to victory.
Clarke, saved two of Rhythm Squad’s five shots, GDF did not need to take their 5th shot as the previous four were all on target. Missing for the losers were Julian Flores and Rawle Ramsey with Mark Gilkes, Orville Stewart and custodian Derville Stewart scoring.
For the Army, Marlon Benjamin, Nigel Braithwaite, Keiron Cameron and Olvis Mitchell were on target.
The remaining semi-finalists will be decided this evening when Sunburst Camptown takes on Santos and BK International Western Tigers match skills with Fruta Conquerors.