AFTER six nights of exciting preliminary round action, the round of 16 action in this year’s sixth annual Banks DIH’s Guinness ‘Greatest of De Streets’ Georgetown leg Futsal Football tournament, will kick off tomorrow night at the National Cultural Centre tarmac.Several teams such as Sparta Boss, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Leopold Street, North Ruimveldt, ‘Giant Killers’ West Back Road and Albouystown ‘A’ and ‘B’ teams, booked their place for the round of 16, but South Sophia and Cross Street can smile broadly as they were handed a Christmas gift in November.
Two teams who had already qualified in Broad Street Bullies and North East La Penitence, found it hard to contain their emotions during the fifth night of matches and a squabble ensued, resulting in both teams being shown the red card out of the tournament for un-sportsmanlike conduct.
With this being done, the organisers decided to offer a lifeline to the two teams with the best third place record, hence South Sophia and Cross Street will now have another chance at staking a claim for the $600,000 first place prize and a spot in next year’s national playoffs.
Meanwhile, in last Sunday night’s action at the Demerara Car Park, North Sophia lost to Island all-Stars 2-1, with Orson McCurdy (15th) and Devon Hyman (17th) scoring for the victors, after Andrew Smartt scored the opening goal of the contest for North Sophia in the 8th minute.
Kareem Knights (6th) and Akeem ‘Too Cute’ Fitzpatrick (16th) were the respective goal scorers for Tucville and West Back Road respectively, as their game ended 1-1, before Tucville came out victorious 3-2 on Sudden death penalty kicks.
Laing Avenue blanked Durban Street 3-0, with goals from Rayon October (16th), Raphael Charles (20th) and Osapho Angel (24th), followed by Hope Street- Tiger Bay’s 1-0 win over Albouystown’A’, thanks to Rawle Adams’ 4th minute goal.
Festival City Street Warriors handed East Front Road their second defeat, when they came away with a 5-0 win, with goals being scored by Dwayne Lawrence (2nd), Eon Alleyne (6th), Daniel Favorite (13th), Shaquille Duncan (18th) and an own goal in the 17th minute.
After Globe Yard defeated California Square 2-0 on penalty kicks, Back Circle saved their chances by defeating Adelaide Street Charlestown 3-1, with Phillip Rowley scoring in the (5th and 19th) and Vincent Thomas the other goal in the 14th, while Sherwin Smith scored Adelaide Street’s lone goal in the 20th.
The final game of the night resulted in a victory for Alexander Village, who defeated West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ 1-0, thanks to Jamal Nicholas’ 23rd minute goal.
Apart from the top place prize of $600,000 and a trophy, the second to fourth placed teams will receive $300 000, $200 000 and $100 000 respectively along with trophies, while the two top teams will represent Georgetown in the national playoffs.
(By Calvin Roberts)
