A LAST gasp goal by striker Junglo Brunswick, two minutes from the end of regulation play facilitated an away 1-0 win for the Dutch side Inter Moenga Tapoe against hosts Milerock of Linden when the two clubs clashed in their first round tie in the Caribbean Football Union Inter-Club tournament last Sunday night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Playing under heavy conditions brought about by consistent rainfall during the day, the Suriname club found the bauxite mining club side equal to their efforts, as an appreciative crowd watched  the game which developed into an interesting contest.
The game got started at 19:30 h and pre- game predictions heavily favoured a win by the Dutch team who, last year, scored wins over top-ranked Alpha United and the Guyana Defence Force in an international championship in Georgetown.
As early as the 9th minute the Surinamese forward Tablan Jeroe looked dangerous. However, Milerock responded one minute later through forward Allister Johnson who created an opportunity after being fed the ball by the veteran and former national striker Collie ‘Hitman’ Hercules, who was coming into his own.
In the 12th minute, midfielder Jves Vlyter started another fine play dishing off to his teammate but the resultant shot was held by Milerock’s goalkeeper Dereck Carter.
The Suriname number two club then, through Junglo Brunswick, could have taken the lead but the cluster of players allowed for disruption in the play and nothing resulted just inside the 18-yard box.
Then Hercules, who was creating plays for Milerock, delivered a through ball to Oswald Benjamin in the 29th minute but the shot was held by the Dutch goalkeeper.
Four minutes adrift a free kick was awarded to Milerock and specialist spot kicker, the former national schemer Kayode McKinnon, but the shot went just too far away from the last post.
All along, Mileorck’s defence was standing up adequately to the forays led by their taller opponents but this pressure was minimised by young players such as Kevin Sullivan  the central defence and wing back Devon Dennis. When they went aerial veteran defender captain Marlon ‘Scary’ Maxius was there to shore up things.
By then Hercules was on parade and even with his creative instincts the conditions prevented him gaining a clear advantage to score, worming his way through the middle as the Surinamese goalkeeper was able to grab the ball at the last moment.
In the 28th minute Hercules was again pressing his way despite the muddy conditions, making waves on the watery outfield but he was hacked down by an opposing player as the Trinidad and Tobago referee had a tough time controlling the now brutal challenges seemingly targeted for Hercules.
Three minutes later Oswald Benjamin was there to send a neat lob into the goalmouth where the darting forward Hercules exquisitely latched on with a volley which scored, but the goal was ruled off side.
Then Hercules in the 36th minute working overtime failed to get the go-ahead goal with the Dutch goalkeeper somewhat out of position..
As the first half ended it was clear that a battle was on and spectators really felt that the home side looked like coming away with a win.
But this was not to be and as the second half got under way neither side could outdo the other. Some changes were made on both sides but without much success.
However, the final moments provided the decision where, from a lapse in concentration, Inter Moenga Tope through a corner saw Brunswick soaring unchallenged when he sent a head shot to the left of the goalkeeper to score with just two minutes to game.
It silenced the expectant Linden crowd and Milerock were unable to level the scores, coming away with a 1-0 loss they can ill afford and would rather not have, going to Suriname knowing its worth.
Head coach Joseph, however, is optimistic saying, “It was a lapse in concentration for one second. We talked about it before the game. We talked about it at halftime but just one player failed to mark and it resulted in a goal. But it was a good goal. I am not going to get down on the players for that.”