FUTSAL football-loving fans who turned out in their numbers at the East Ruimveldt’s California Square last Thursday night to witness the action in this year’s Mackeson ‘Keep your five alive’ tournament, were treated to two impressive performances from tournament favourites Sparta Boss and Albouystown ‘B’. Fittingly, both sides played the final two matches for the night against Turkeyen and Rasville ‘A’ respectively and came away with a similar margin of victory, 3-0 over their opponents to advance to the next round.
Also advancing were Berlin, who defeated 2011 Georgetown/Banks DIH Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ champion Back Circle 1-0, which was the same scoreline for the West Front Road versus Costello clash, in favour of the former.
Festival City and Broad Street ‘B’ also made it through to the next round, after defeating Leopold Street ‘B’ and Vryheid Lust Champs on penalty kicks, but it was the two final games of the night that gripped the attention of the spectators, even as the DJ kept things lively on the Stereosonics turntable.
Devon Millington and Dennis Edwards were the key figures in the Sparta Boss’ lineup and certainly they did not fail to impress, as the two combined to give their side the first goal of their contest against Turkeyen in the first minute of play.
Known for his controlling ability on the big field, Millington exhibited such plays before finding Edwards on the left side of the small playing area, only to see his teammate convert the chance, sending the crowd into frenzy.
Jermaine Weekes missed a golden opportunity to send Sparta Boss into the lead three minutes later, when his penalty kick which was awarded after a Turkeyen player defended the ball in the no-zone area, struck the left post, but Millington made up for that blunder with his strike in the 6th minute.

The shrill sound of referee Lawrence Ross finished ringing off in the ears of the fans, when Edwards completed his double with a gem of a goal, driving the ball through the legs of the opposition player, to spark off celebrations off the field of play before the end of the first half.
Despite their efforts, Turkeyen found it difficult to pull back a goal as Sparta Boss, who began to display a show-time attitude for the fans to show support, squandered several opportunities to go further ahead before the final whistle was sounded.
Like Sparta Boss, a large uproar took place when Albouystown ‘B’, who are heavily favoured to take the $300 000 top prize, took the playing area to take on a hapless Rasville ‘A’ lineup and they too did not find it difficult to give their fans what they came to see.
Melvon Ross emulated Edwards and struck a double in the 5th and 18th minutes of play, while Shaka Jones added his solitary strike in the 13th minute to hand Albouystown ‘B’ a comfortable victory, after leading 2-0 at halftime.
Rasville ‘A’ have only themselves to blame, since they lacked coordination and communication both on the offensive and defensive side of the game, while their opponents took the first four minutes to adjust to their style of play.
When Ross got his first goal, in which he calmly placed the ball through the legs of Rocky Cumberbatch, it signalled the start of Albouystown ‘B’s domination of their opponents, amidst words of encouragement from their supporters – some of which were expletives.
Sherwyn Cadogan’s 6th minute strike was all that was needed to guide Berlin past Back Circle, after Festival City edged Leopold Street 1-0 on sudden-death penalty kicks, with Andell Bailey being his team’s hero following a nil-all stalemate at the end of regulation time and 3-3 on penalty kicks.
Broad Street ‘B’ also defeated Vryheid’s Lust Champs 3-1 on penalty kicks, while Wendell Pedro’s 11th minute strike was all that was needed to separate West Front Road from Costello. The action continues tonight in Albouystown.