-Teams expelled for unsportsmanlike conduct
AFTER five nights of intense and enthralling action, the coordinators of the sixth annual Georgetown ‘Guinness Greatest of De Streets’ Futsal football competition, can go about their business planning the knockout round.What is certain is that defending champions Queen Street- Tiger Bay has not made it out of their group to advance, while both North East LaPenitence and Broad Street Bullies, who were already assured of a spot in the knockout round, needlessly eliminated themselves last Thursday night.
The action was held at the National Cultural Centre tarmac for the third successive night, wherein Riverview failed to show up for their contest against South Ruimveldt, a game which had no significance as both teams were already on their way out of the tournament.
In the second game of the night, South Sophia were giving their marching orders out of this year’s edition, following O’Kenny Fraser’s 3rd minute goal that handed Leopold Street a 1-0 win, over one of the tournament’s pre-favourite teams.
A Ronaldo Dover 21 seconds goal for Cross Street, was later nullified by Troy Heyliger (4th) and Andre Trotz (14th) for Charlestown, who later saw Samuel Hunte finding the back of the net in the 15th minute for Cross Street, to send their encounter into penalty kicks, which Cross Street won 3-2.
Following the on-field disturbance between North East LaPenitence and Broad Street Bullies, which occurred with the latter leading 1-0 courtesy of Shaquille Browne’s 5th minute goal, the organizers have decided to hand the two best third placed teams, a lifeline back into the contest.
Festival City Street Fighters were also in winner’s row, defeating Bent Street 2-0 on penalty kicks following a nil all stalemate, while North Ruimveldt showed defending champions Queen Street-Tiger Bay the exit after recording a 2-1 penalty kicks win.
The night’s penultimate action results were in favor of the red hot Sparta Boss lineup that scraped past Castello Housing Scheme 2-1, thanks to goals from Sheldon Shepherd (9th) and Cleyon Forrester (12th), after Shermon Anthony shocked the crowd with his 6th minute strike for Castello, before Stevedore Housing Scheme edged Albouystown ‘B’ 1-0.
The action will continue tonight at the Demerara Car Park with eight more preliminary round matches, from which the remaining four teams for the round of 16 will be decided.
This is so, after Leopold Street, Albouystown ‘A’ and ‘B’, Festival City Street Fighters, Hope Street-Tiger Bay, Globe Yard, Cross Street, West Front Road, Sparta Boss, Festival City Street Warriors, West Back Road and North Ruimveldt, have all qualified for the round of 16.
At stake is a top prize of $500,000, a trophy and a place in the national playoffs, with the second, third and fourth placed teams taking home $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively along with trophies.

(By Calvin Roberts)