Guyana national champions sink Puerto Rican club 3-2
A goal each from Dwight Peters, Andrew Murray and Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, all in the second half, propelled Guyana’s Alpha United over Puerto Rico’s River Plate three goals to two, in their round two action in the 2011 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.

It was the third time the two sides were meeting in the tournament, having first played to 1-1 draw last year in Trinidad and also on Friday night at the Guyana National Stadium. A crowded Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) Ground Bourda yesterday watched the home side needing a win to advance bounced backed from having a missing spree in the first half to hold off a spirited River Plate.

Both sides knew that a win was their only option, if they would want to make it into the round of the ‘final four’ and as such, they came out looking hungry from kick off.

With the home crowd behind them, Alpha United began to make their way easily around the River Plate defence with their two strikers – Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington and Devon Millington – making their visitors fight really hard early.

As was the case in the first game that saw the two sides drawing nil all on Friday last, Alpha could’ve easily won by a wider margin, if they had only converted half of the chances given in the first 20 minutes of the game.

Millington continued his sloppy finishing at the top with him squandering all his open goal looks. His (Millington) first look on goal came when Codrington made his way around three defenders and then unselfishly tap the ball to him in the six yards box but his shot sailed way over the uprights.

The team certainly didn’t hold back their frustration and disappointment of the nasty play and then again Millington messed up another pass this time from Travis ‘Zorro’ Grant who patted a beautiful ball to him in the 18 yards and he kicked the ball easily to the keeper.

Captain Howard Lowe was once again outstanding in the back as he manages his ‘brick wall’ like defence well to keep off any real chances the River Plate strikers would’ve had.

Meanwhile, the miss galore glamour continued for Alpha as this time Codrington could not have put away a pass from Grant that saw him facing the keeper one-on-one and hitting it powerfully to the River Plate custodian.

The half ended painfully for both sides who had certain opportunities to convert and the players downed their heads in disappointment only to themselves and walked off to their respective dressing room.

As the second half started, both sides made some changes with Coach Wayne ‘Wiggy’ Dover bringing in Abrams for Millington and he immediately caused some problems for the River Plate defenders.

But 10 minutes into play, River Plate’s Martin Morello was caught deliberately handing the ball in the 18 yards box after a Peters shot to goal and was given a straight red card by the referee.

Peters then stepped to the line and blasted in a hard right foot shot that sailed way out of the reach of the River Plate keeper and gave his side a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later (58th) Abrams sneaked in and collected a nice flat pass in the 18 yards box from Peters and made no mistakes in sending Alpha up 2-0, much to the delight of the home team’s supporters.

Shawn Bishop could’ve extended the lead soon after if only he had converted a simple one-on-one play with the keeper after Codrington ‘dummied’ (left alone) a pass cross the top from Peters.

River Plate fought back hard even though being a man down and was able to score what was deemed as a too easy shot for Ronson Williams to not save after the Alpha keeper casually and carelessly went after a soft shot by Matias Maroni in the 78th minute.

The goal brought back some life to the game but substitute and former National Junior Captain Andrew Murray (Jnr), fired home what is claimed to be the goal of the match in the 83rd minute.

Peters had powered his way down the left wing and swung a lob pass in the 18 yards area when Murray sailed in a volleyed ball into the back of the net.

Many thought that the game was all over, but River Plate’s Ruben Diaz headed home a beautiful goal in the closing minutes of extra time (94th minute) but it was too late as the referee’s whistle was soon sounded.

The win now pushes Alpha United in the round of four where they would have to come out on top to advance to the CONCACAF Champions League.

Their opposition or date is not yet known but Alpha Club president Odinga Lumumba said that they would be looking to host the matches.