… Double-header on tomorrow at Providence stadium
SUNBURST Camptown and Pele book semi-final spots in the 20th edition of the Annual Kashif and Shanghai Football Tournament by securing victories over Riddim Squad and Guyana Defence Force (GDF) respectively.

In the first of the two q uarter-final matches that were played at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, on Christmas night, Sunburst Camptown brushed aside Riddim Squad 3-0 while defending champions Pele edged GDF by a 2-1 margin in the feature game of the evening.

In the opening game, Lance Raulston, Quamie LaFleur and Nigel `Powers’ Codrington found the back of Riddim Squad’s net in the 26th, 32nd and 75th minutes respectively.

In the feature game, Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson ((90th) and Gerald Whittington (94th) were on target for Pele while GDF’s guest player Kevin Carter of Trinidad opened the scoring with a fourth-minute goal.

In the Camptown versus Riddim Squad match, the Campbellville-based team went ahead from a left side buildup and the winger made a blind side pass through Riddim Squad’s centre midfield into the defence and Raulston ran on to the ball, found himself in a one-on-one situation with the opposition’s custodian Ron Liverpool and converted.

LaFleur then made it 2-0 for the 2008/09 tournament runners-up (Camptown) from a left side buildup once again.

The ball was played from the left wing to the inside of Riddim Squad’s 18-yard box and LaFleur got to it before the opposition’s defence or custodian could have got hold of it and headed it into goal to give his team a comfortable 2-0 lead which was maintained until the interval.

Trailing by a 0-2 margin, Riddim Squad took the field for the second session a more purposeful bunch but they were unable to penetrate Camptown’s custodian.

With 15 minutes of regulation time remaining, Codrington made it 3-0.

Camptown was awarded a corner which was taken from the right corner flag, the ball was played short to Codrington, who weaved his way into Riddim Squad’s penalty box and converted clinically.

With their two wins to date in the competition, Camptown will now play the winner of the Fruta Conquerors versus Alpha United match which was scheduled for the GFC ground last evening.

In Friday night’s feature match, Pele were given a scare after Carter netted GDF’s opening goal in the fourth minute and his team mates, especially the defenders, held their own for the next 85 minutes, not allowing the defending champions to breach them.

However, in the 90th minute, Pele were awarded a questionable penalty, as the referee ruled that one of GDF’s defenders had handled the ball.

The penalty was taken by Richardson who shot powerfully to goal but the ball was blocked by GDF custodian Akeel Clarke. However, Richardson in his follow through brilliantly converted on the rebound to level the score.

In the sudden death extra time, Pele’s second-half substitute Whittington scored from a very acute angle to give his team the winner and a place in the semi-final where they will play the winner of last night’s quarter-final game between Topp XX and BK International Western Tigers.

That match was scheduled for the Mackenzie Sports Club ground.

The two semi-finals as well as the final and third place playoff are set for the National stadium at Providence.