Pele and Sunburst Camptown canter into K&S semis

Dec 27, 2009 Sports

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Beat GDF and Riddim Squad at National Stadium

By Franklin Wilson
It was likened to the final of the tournament, actually it was just the quarter-final but the level of intensity, excitement and anxious moments it produced certainly had fans and supporters at the edges of their seats from start to finish.
That was the situation in the second quarter-final and feature match on Christmas Night between defending champions Pele and the Guyana Defence Force which the former won in pulsating fashion in the final minute of added on time by a 2-1 margin. The opening game saw Sunburst Camptown shining too bright for Riddim Squad whom they defeated 3-0.
The Army/Pele clash lived up to its billing as it provided great entertainment end to end for all to savour. The GDF it was though, who asserted themselves from the onset as they took the fight to Pele whose line up was bolstered with the inclusion of former National Captain, the inspirational Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard who controlled the defence.
The razor sharp Army wasted no time in taking the lead, the game was a mere 4 minutes old when T&T based forward Kelvin Carter marched through the Pele defence and goalkeeper Shemroy Arthur to rock the nets sending the Army supporters into a frenzy.
Despite the lead, Pele never backed off and as true champions kept chipping away at the opposition who stood firm.
Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson worked overtime to keep his team in the game, his flair and nimble foot work were in full flow but he was never allowed the opportunity to really open up as he was kept in check by solid work at the back by GDF.
What was heartening was the involvement of the crowd throughout the encounter which helped to lift the level of rivalry between the teams. With the score unchanged at the end of the first half it was predictable that the final half would be much more intense and so it was.
The GDF did not help their cause when they were reduced to 9 men with two of their players sent off. Keon Adams received a straight red in the 63rd minute and three minutes later, T&T defender David Alleyne received his second yellow card of the game from referee Roy Mc Arthur.
The loss of two critical players placed the GDF under severe pressure to keep the defending champs at bay. They {GDF}did a good job initially as Pele were never really able to make the advantage count but they persevered nonetheless keeping the score down to 1-0. Chances were created by both sides, poor finishing was the call of the day.
The GDF goalie Delon Young must be complimented for bringing off some excellent saves in the game and were it not for his heroics, the score line could have told a different tale.
With time ticking away and the GDF sensing a major win, the game took a massive swing Pele’s way.
Unfortunately for the Army, one of their defenders handled the ball in the box in the final minute of regulation time (90th) and up stepped Richardson to take the kick. His initial shot was saved by Clarke but he was alert enough unlike the Army players to sneak in for the rebound which he buried to level the score.
Immediately after the goal, the fourth official signaled four minutes of added on time but from the equalizer, it was going to be a different game and so it turned out.
Pele were now re-energized for the final moments while the Army was now thinking what went wrong but even as they contemplated, the defending champs consolidated. In the final minute of added on time, their main nemesis Richardson, again took matters into his own hands.
Just around midfield in the Army’s half he took the ball and got past the challenge of defender Royan Morrison, looked up on the right side of the box to find substitute Gerald Whittington who collected the ball calmly before firing his shot past the advancing Clarke into the back of the nets. It was a dagger like goal that pierced the hearts of the GDF players and supporters for the worst.
A great result for Pele but great disappointment for the GDF who played well but slipped up in the dying moments of a grueling battle. Pele will now face the winner of the Bakewell Topp XX/BK International Western Tigers game which was played last evening at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.
The opening game on Christmas night saw Upstarts Riddim Squad taking on Sunburst Camptown who never allowed the Mocha based side and Georgetown Division One champions to settle. Camptown, led by Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington controlled the game from the start and in tandem with Lance Rolston and Kwame La Fleur netted a goal each to lead the Campbellville side to a solid win.
Rolston opened the scoring in the 26th minute, La Fleur with a well timed header doubled the advantage in the 32nd minute while the Captain himself sealed the deal in the 75th minute.
It was another efficient display by the two-time Kashif and Shanghai champions who ended the fairytale run of Riddim Squad who must be proud of their debut performance in Guyana’s number one knock-out championship.
Camptown will now oppose the winner of the Alpha United/Fruta Conquerors match up which was set for the GFC ground last evening.   The semi-finals will be contested tomorrow at the National Stadium from 18:30hrs.

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