Pele needle Western Tigers, Alpha beat Kings on penalties

Apr 27, 2009 Sports

Pele and Alpha United have earned a quarter-final date following contrasting wins in latest play of the 2nd annual Mackeson/Digicel Sweet 16 knock-out competition on Saturday evening at the Plaisance Community Centre ground.

Travis Grant

A Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant 44th minute needle was all Pele needed to tame BK International Western Tigers, the winners while not able to score more goals dominating their opponents.

Grant was his usual commanding self in midfield and was also effective in going forward which resulted in him scoring the winner.

Alpha, were pushed to the brink and can count themselves lucky to have survived a spirited challenge from former East Coast powerhouse, Victoria Kings.

The Kings drew first blood when the game was 17 minutes old, Andrew Holder sinking his shot past Ronson Williams in goal for Alpha.

The East Coast side was able to hold that advantage for quite some time. Their advantage was finally nullified when Edison Gomes rocked the nets in 67th minute.

Thereafter, the battle to go ahead went to and fro, not even extra time could have separated the two teams.

Alpha’s first choice keeper Ronson Williams was sent off in 110th minute for abusive language.

He was not too happy that he was being substituted as his technical staff sensed the game was heading to penalty kicks and reserve keeper Shawn John son would have been preferred between the uprights.

His outburst towards the technical staff was dealt with promptly by referee Wayne ‘Harry’ Joseph who issued marching orders.

Gomes spilled his kick from the spot but Alpha, were able to convert the other four through Leon Grumble, Carlos Monkhouse, Howard Lowe and Kelvin Mc Kenzie.

On target for Victoria Kings were Orin Elias and Andrew Holder. Mortimer Murphy’s shot was saved by Johnson while Shawn Samuels’ effort hit the upright to Johnson’s left handing Alpha their place and date against Pele in the quarter finals.

The final two group-of-16 matches will be contested tomorrow. Cougars of Berbice are set to take on Plaisance from 18:00hrs with feature play bringing together Bakewell Buxton Stars and Georgetown Football Club. Quarter final rivalry will start on Thursday with the Guyana Defense Force opposing BV Triumph United and defending champions Sunburst Camptown matching skills with giant killers, Ann’s Grove. (Franklin Wilson)