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NA United & Alpha United defy sodden conditions to progress to quarter finals
Jamal Butts (L) and Leonard Adams
It was a wet night and most of the fans opted to stay at home but by now they would be ruing a missed chance to witness a great display of tactical football when action in the Fruta Conquerors/Namilco One Love Football Classic continued at the Tucville Ground, Wednesday evening last.
New Amsterdam United (NAU) registered a 2-1 upset victory over the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) moments before Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United distinguished itself with a 2-0 whipping of Rhythm Squad FC.
Andrew Murray registered the double for Alpha in the 42nd and 60th minute while Jamal Butts (95 and 105 minute) sent the NAU ahead. James Fordyce contributed the lone goal for GFC.
The NAU/GFC encounter was intense but a steady drizzle late in the evening lasted for the better part of two hours and left the field in a sodden state causing the players to slip and slide as each team battled for possession.
Both sides were also guilty of tardiness which resulted in many lost chances. The first half saw both sides battling for the ascendancy but staunch defensive tactics denied them the opportunity of surging ahead up to the end of the first session.
The second session was a replica of the first with both teams attempting to gain the initiative but was undone by either great defensive work of the opposition or, as in most cases, inability to overcome the muddy terrain, as in many cases the ball became stuck or the players were unable to dribble smoothly. This resulted in a nil all stalemate at the end of regulation time.
The players approached the extra time session with renewed vigor and the tactical exchanges were more apparent. NAU striker, Jamal Butts then collected a pass deep into his half and skillfully dribbled all the way to the opposition’s goal.
He unleashed a fierce right foot shot that sped past the GFC custodian and settled aback the net in the 95th minute. James Fordyce wasted little time when he struck the ball five minutes later with a force that evaded everyone including the NAU goalie to equalize the situation.
The Georgetown team had little time to gloat before Leonard Adams sent the Berbicians ahead once again at exactly five minutes after the second goal with a vicious kick that found the back of the GFC net. It proved to be the decider.
Meanwhile, Alpha’s Andrew Murray looked threatening from the first whistle as he worked in tandem with fellow striker, Dwight Peters, to wade into Riddim Squad’ defensive third. Several raids were unsuccessful as Riddim Squad’s defensive lineup proved its worth.
Several times Murray sprinted down the left flank but failed to get past the opposition’s defense. His third attempt was successful after he expertly collected an offering from the right flank on his forehead, swiveled and sent the ball past the Rhythm squad custodian.
Thereafter, the two teams engaged in fierce exchanges as Riddim Squad attempted to equalize the situation. They too were affected by the slippery conditions which resulted in many missed opportunities. In the meantime new addition to the Alpha squad, Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, found the going rough as NAU’s defense singled him out for special attention. Several times he sprinted to the opposition’s goal and as many times he reached a stone wall. Left free, Murray took advantage of the distraction and sent his team ahead with a 60th minute repeat.
The tournament started with sixteen teams but following the latest ejection of GFC and Riddim Squad, 8 teams now remain. There will be two quarter final matches tonight between the Guyana Defense Force and Betterverwagting in the opening encounter followed by the feature attraction between Conquerors and the Guyana Police Force. The winner of the competition will take home $1.2M while the runners up pockets half that amount. The third and fourth place finishers receive $400,000 and $200,000 respectively.
Along with the main sponsors, NAMILCO, several other business places have donated auxiliary prizes including Junior’s Jewelry (one gold chain), Bayridge Taxi Service (one cell phone) and Global Technology (2 computer scholarships).
Semi final action is slated for next Wednesday while the grand final and the third place playoff are scheduled for February 24 next.
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