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NAMILCO One Love Football Classic Alpha United are champs again, needle GDF in pulsating finale Conquerors take 3rd
Defending champions Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United were pushed to the brink by an energetic and stubborn Guyana Defence Force (GDF) side before they could have found the back of the nets to retain the NAMILCO One Love Football Classic knock-out title in an extra time epic.
Apart from bragging rights for the next year, Alpha’s reward for the 1-0 win compliments of a 111th minute goal off the boot of second half substitute, Jamaican Mark Miller, was a cheque for a whopping $1.2M; half that amount went to the GDF for their efforts.
In the third place game, tournament host, Fruta Conquerors thumped Riddim Squad 4-2 to take the $400,000 incentive with $200,000 going to the loser.
The final game of what was the 7th edition of the competition was the ideal climax to a successful tournament. Neither finalist was willing to sit back and allow the other to impose their will as they both showed offensive intentions early in the piece.
GDF bettered Alpha in midfield play and stood rock solid in defence led by Selwyn Isaacs, Seon Prince, Captain Royan Morrison and the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, Delroy Fraser who created quite a few problems for Alpha’s defenders.
Alpha were also solid at the back but lacked offensive decisiveness with Kithson Bain (midfield), Captain Dwight Peters, Gregory Richardson, Andrew Murray and company never looking settled to the extent that Richardson was substituted early due to an injury.
Richardson was replaced by Sheldon Holder and even his introduction did not bring a marked change in fortune for Alpha, even as they created some chances, but lacked the discipline in the final third, muffing many chances.
Minister Juan Edghill hands over the winning trophy and cheque to Alpha United Captain Dwight Peters in the presence of his fellow teamates and Technical staff
The Army’s goalkeeper, Carl Stevenson, came up big for his team as did his opposite number Ronson Williams, who was named the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper. Both sides inserted fresh legs during the regulation period as they sought the opening goal but it never came until the second period of extra time.
Even Bain was taken off by Coach Dover who was visibly displeased with the lack of decisiveness of his charges. The longer the game went meant more pressure for Alpha.
But with the introduction of Mark Miller in midfield, Alpha began to look more threatening, Miller sought to bring some stability and effectiveness to the engine room and he proved to be effective.
Both teams were guilty of not taking shots on goal, when Alpha did, on one occasion Stevenson could not hold the shot and the ensuing rebound was placed wide by Alpha. The deadlock was however broken with a looping left foot missile from about 25 yards out by Miller that sailed over the outstretched hands of Stevenson who never expected a shot from that distance.
Alpha United 1, Guyana Defence Force 0. The ease that the goal brought among the Alpha supporters and team was felt around the GFC ground which attracted a very large gathering.
In the third place game, Fruta Conquerors led by tournament Highest Goal Scorer (6) Dwayne Lawrence with a double (18, 60) romped to a convincing 4-2 win over Riddim Squad which had taken the early lead in the 13th minute through Sceyon Hope.
At the half way mark the game was tied 1-1, three minutes after the interval, Riddim Squad regained the lead when Amos Ramsey found the back of the nets. Conquerors neutralized proceedings in the 51st minute when Delon Williams rocked the nets before Lawrence handed them the lead and Jahall Greaves sealed the deal in the 63rd minute.
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