Alpha and Pele to battle for 2010 K&S title

THERE was no shortage of excitement at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Wednesday night  when Alpha United pipped Bakewell Topp XX 3-1 on penalty kicks, while Pele steamrolled Sunburst Camptown 2-1 in semi-finals. The two teams (Pele and Alpha) will now face each other in tomorrow’s final, where they would be vying for the $2M cash prize along with the silverware and bragging rights that come with it.
Alpha United and Bakewell Topp XX began their rivalry in the 2005 edition of the 21-year-old tournament when the
Linden club defeated the two-time National League winners 1-0 in their first Kashif and Shanghai tournament. The win saw Topp XX pick up their fifth title but Alpha exacted revenge in the 2007 final by defeating Topp XX 1-0.
Wednesday was the first time the two sides  met in the tournament since then and the history between the two sides alone set the tone for what unfolded at the national stadium.
While Alpha United boasted a line-up of some of the country’s premier players along with Kiston Bain of Grenada, who is said to be the best the Caribbean has to offer upfront, the five-time champions had a subtle set of players who literally matched them (Alpha) in every department.
Both sides started the game cautiously, feeling each other out, but all that changed as they approached the halfway mark of the first half when Alpha pressed on the gas a little. It resulted in a bomber-like shot from Dwight Peters (22nd minute) that saw Topp XX custodian Richard Reynolds fully stretched but couldn’t get a hand on it.
The first half ended 1-0 and the second period saw Bain trying to extend the lead but was thwarted by some good defending by Topp XX’s Michael Crandon and Javin Crawford.
Both sides had good chances but as time began to wind down and with referee Diane James glancing often at her watch, Topp XX began to get desperate.
It was the closing seconds of the game and the score 1-0 when Topp XX’s goalkeeper Richard Reynolds joined his team mates in the Alpha United penalty area for a corner.  When the kick was taken, Reynolds went up to take a header, but he was held down by Howard Lowe (Alpha captain).
James wasted no time in blowing for a penalty and issued Lowe with a yellow card. The kick was taken by Travis Waterton who made no mistake in converting; sending the game to extra time but the two sides still weren’t able to break the 1-1 deadlock.
The game eventually went down to penalty kicks and all things looked to be in Topp XX’s favour when Alpha skipper Howard  Lowe’s kick went flat and wide of the goal.
Kayode McKinnon continued his fine form for his side; giving them the lead which turned out to be the only goal in the penalty shootout.
Alpha United goalkeeper Ronson Williams showed why he is Guyana’s first-choice between the uprights, pulling off three terrific saves. His team mates, Bain, Anthony Abrams and Peters were the players who converted for Alpha, who will make their third appearance in the Kashif and Shanghai Final.
Meanwhile, Pele had only themselves to beat since Sunburst Camptown proved to be little or no threat to the one-time champions.
Pele’s problem with goal conversion continues to haunt them and since anyone playing can score at any time, it means it’s a general problem.
But after several frail attempts and near-chances, national striker Devon Millington, feeding off once again from Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson, registered his side’s first goal late in the second half.
Soon after, Richardson paid himself off for his heroics with a goal of his own while Shawn ‘Bubbly’ Beveney sealed the night with a stunning finish.
Camptown’s striker Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington was tamed all night by Pele’s rock-solid defence, led by former national captain Charles ‘Lilly’ Pollard.
Both sides were favoured by many to meet each other in the final this year and the dreams of the diehard football fans of Guyana will now become a reality on Saturday, January 1.
Camptown and Topp XX will clash for the third place which will also be a rematch of the 2003 final that saw the Campbellville-based club get the better of Topp XX 1-0 at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.

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