– knockout round commences tomorrow night
THANKS to Shaka John’s brace, Albouystown remained unbeaten in the Banks DIH organized Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ exhibition contest, while at the same time defeated Back Circle/Team Guyana on the third night of action which was contested at the New Albouystown Basketball court last Saturday night. John found the back of the net in the 18th and 28th minute of the contest and coupled with Andrew Murray’s 4th minute goal, handed Back Circle/Team Guyana their first loss of the tournament by a 3-1 margin, with B. Pedro finding the back of the net for the losers in the 17th minute.
In the first match of the night, Island All Star who suffered defeats to both Albouystown and Back Circle/Team Guyana in their first two matches, chalked up their first win by defeating Durban Street 3-0, with Kevin Phillips scoring a double in the 7th and 17th minute and Orson Mc Curdy finding the goal in the 6th minute respectively.
Inaugural Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ winners Broad Street continues to find it hard in this form of soccer, as they went under to West Front Road (WFR) 2-1 in the second game of the night.
The two Michaels – in Michael Pedro and Michael Oie were responsible for their demise, scoring for WFR in the 9th and 19th minute of play, after Devon Adams handed Broad Street, who won the tournament in 2010, the lead with his 6th minute strike.
Deon Alfred scored the lone goal of the third contest for Tiger Bay, who needled Alexander Village 1-0 in a closely fought encounter, before Albouystown and Back Circle/Team Guyana took the court for the final game of the night.
Despite the loss to Albouystown, Back Circle/Team Guyana, for whom this tournament was organized to give them adequate preparation before the Guinness Caribbean Street Football Challenge kicks off on June 21 at the National Park  has booked a place in the knockout round.
Meanwhile, the knockout stage of the competition kicks off tomorrow night at the National Cultural Centre tarmac, with Alexander Village who topped Group A, taking on Durban Street who finished fourth in Group B, from 20:00hrs.
Group B winners Albouystown will meet the fourth placed Group A finisher Broad Street, WFR’s second placed finish in Group A, has landed them a matchup against Island All Star, the team that finished third in Group B.
The night’s action will culminate with Back Circle/Team Guyana the second placed team from Group B, opposing Tiger Bay Group A’s third placed finisher, while the semifinals and finals will be contested at the same venue Friday night.
At stake in the tournament is $ 200,000 to the victorious team, with the second-, third- and fourth-placed finishers taking home $100 000, $50 000 and $25 000 respectively, and the remaining four teams who fail to make it to the semifinals $15 000 each.