Latest update April 3rd, 2025 7:31 AM
GDF, Pele, Camptown, Flamingo into quarters
– Alpha, Soesdyke, BV, Victoria booted
By Franklin Wilson
Camptown
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF), Pele, Sunburst Camptown and Flamingo have booked their places in the quarter-finals of the Guinness/Georgetown Football Association/Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport/National Sports Commission Futsal competition, after recording contrasting wins when the knock-out stage commenced on Friday evening at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Watched by a sizable crowd, GDF were too hot for Alpha United, as they won the much hyped encounter 2-1. Pele rebounded after being placed on the back foot by Victoria Champions to also win by a similar margin.
Camptown blanked BV Backdam 2-0 while Flamingo too, had to come from a goal down to turn back the stern challenge of East Bank’s South Soesdyke, 3-1.
In the main event, Alpha boosted their chances of progressing further in the competition with the inclusion of Dwight Peters and Quincy Madramootoo, but the Army was not going to be intimidated with their inclusion. They made their intentions very clear from the outset with shots being fired from all angles.
Their inside play was equally potent as they jumped into the lead after only six minutes, Kevin Lewis slipping the ball past goalkeeper Shawn Johnson to his left from a tight angle.
But two minutes later, Peters negated that advantage by netting the equalizer for Alpha. The exchanges were fast and furious, as the sides battled for the go ahead goal, but it was the Army – backed up by the support of their fans that always looked the likely candidates to score – and that they did.
Marlon Benjamin tucked in the winner in the 15th minute from another excellent build up by the GDF. Thereafter, the Soldiers skillfully maintained possession and a high presence in their half as the timed ticked away to a memorable win and a quarter-final date with Flamingo.
Flamingo, booked their place following another sound performance against a tough Soesdyke outfit. Such was the closeness of the encounter that the first half ended 1-1, Dwayne Layne netting the first of his brace to put Flamingo ahead in the 10th minute, but Sheldon Holder tied the score two minutes later.
Soesdyke squandered two clear cut chances of taking the lead in the opening stages of the game, and they certainly lived to regret those missed opportunities. Flamingo on the other hand, used their experience to good effect.
In the first minute after the resumption, the tournament’s leading goal scorer, Leon Yaw (5) handed the advantage to Flamingo and they never looked back, sealing the deal in the 22nd when Layne completed his double.
Pele too, had to call on their experience to overcome the defy Victoria Champions, the East Coast side jumping into the lead in the 11th minute, compliments of a Shawn Samuels goal.
They were enjoying the better of the exchanges with Pele looking very flat – not displaying the normal energy their fans are accustomed to seeing. They were however able to lift their spirits in the second half, and while they were unable to penetrate their opponents in the area, they resorted to big shots from outside which won them the game.
Shemroy Arthur it was, who took them home with devastating shots from long range in the 15th and 21st minute. The second shot was so menacing that Victoria’s goalkeeper himself took evasive action as the ball entered goal from the roof at frightening speed.
Pele have booked a quarter-final date with Sunburst Camptown, who took care of BV Backdam 2-0.
This match up was also a tight affair between two balanced sides, but the city team after a goalless first half stamped their authority. Kester Alleyne in the 18th and Sherwin Cadogan 3 minutes later were the players on target for Camptown.
In the exhibition games, the young female Victoria side via a last minute free kick scored by Sasha Greaves salvaged a 1-1 draw with their more experienced city counterparts, Eagles who scored in the first half through Andrea Lashley.
Camp Street Taxi side were too speedy for Clippers Barber Shop, whom they defeated 2-1, while Customs were triumphant over Upper Level Barber Shop by a similar 2-1 score line.
Group-of-16 action will conclude on Tuesday evening at the same venue.
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