DEVON Millington in the closing seconds of the game dribbled his way past three Victoria Kings defenders and slipped the ball past their custodian to give his side a 2-1 win and a spot in the quarter-finals when action in the 25th Kashif and Shanghai Football tournament continued on Wednesday night at the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) ground. In the opening game of the evening’s double-header, Manasseh Primo scored both goals in Alpha United’s 2-0 lopsided win against Agricola Red Triangle.

The Vergenoegen-based club included Trinidad and Tobago-based Akel Clarke in the goal, Colin Nelson, King Solomon Austin, Joshua Brown and Philbert Moffat in defence, Tishard Joseph in the middle while upfront Millington was joined by Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, Clive Nobrega and Dexroy Adams.
Millington, 15 minutes into the game, could have given the ‘West Side’ champions the lead – caught one-on-one with the goalkeeper – but his shot failed to connect on target.
However, Adams made amends for his player’s mistake when he scored the opening goal of the game in the 44th minute – a one-time right-footed volley.
An almost 30-yard, taken free-kick by Millington rifled past the Victoria Kings’ goalmouth as Bakewell Slingerz pressed forward against the Kings in the second half.
However, Alden Lawrence changed the course of the game when he collected a pass from veteran Winston Pompey and was left unmarked, pushing the ball out of Slingerz’s Akel Clarke’s reach.
With the scores level, Adams pressed his way into the 18-yard area and collected a lobbed ball from Clive Nobrega but the goalkeeper was equal to the task.
Just before Millington scored the game winner, Moffat, from almost 35 yards out, let loose a powerful shot that banged off the crossbar, setting the Kings’ supporters at ease.
But, as fans were preparing for a penalty shootout, Millington had other plans as he scored the winning goal that saw Slingerz, who were making their Kashif and Shanghai tournament debut, survive a scare.
Slingerz will play Fruta Conquerors in tonight’s second game while in the opening encounter Alpha United will clash with Georgetown Football Club (GFC) at 18:30hrs at the DCC ground.