Den Amstel hammer Eagles 6-1; Pouderoyen edge Young Achievers 2-1 in extra time

DEN Amstel and Pouderoyen football clubs have booked their semifinal spots in this year’s Slingerz Football Club-organised Stag Beer/West Side Mashramani Champions Cup, which kicked off last Friday at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground.Watched by an almost full house at the West Demerara facility, Den Amstel, last year’s runners-up, crushed Eagles 6-1 in the second game of the night’s double-header. In the opening game, Pouderoyen FC sealed a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Young Achievers in extra time.
Delon Lanferman (25th, 60th) and Jeffrey Pereira (4th, 46th) netted for Den Amstel who led 5-1 at halftime.
Travis Hilliman (12th) and Andrae Hector (14th) rounded off the scorers for the eventual victors while Eagles’ lone goal came from Jain Williams who had scored in the 5th minute to level the scores at 1-1 after Pereira’s opening goal.
However, Den Amstel will have to finish the tournament and probably the rest of the football season without their animated goalkeeper Sherwyn Lanferman who suffered a broken leg when he collided with his teammate.
Meanwhile, the Pouderoyen/Young Achievers clash set the tone of the night when the two teams, with a statement to make on the ‘West Side’, met head-to-head.
They, however, ended a scoreless first half with no one really creating any real opportunity. Hence fans were certain that the game would have had a thrilling climax.
Nathan Allicock fired home a thunderous right-footed shot from a set piece just on top of the 18-yard area in the 59th minute and his side celebrated as if they had already won the game.
Pouderoyen, nonetheless, never seemed out of the contest and maintained composure; countering on every chance given and their relentless effort paid off in the 70th minute.
Delon Josiah was able to collect a pass while breaking away on the right wing and thanks to some clumsy defending and poor goal-keeping by Young Achievers, the player was able to calmly tuck a well-placed ball at the back of the net.
Apart from the two goals, the match never really had a bright moment but it took literally, the last second to decide a winner.
Regulation time had gone and the two sides were in a heated battle in extra time when Phillip Moore’s header hailed him as the hero of the night and ensured that the resurging Pouderoyen team booked a place in the semi-finals against Den Amstel.
The tournament continues tomorrow at the Uitvlugt Community Centre ground when defending champions and tournament hosts Slingerz FC clash with Bagotville in the opening game of a planned double-header from 18:00hrs.
Game two brings together the battle of neighbouring villages and rivals Uitvlugt and Stewartville.