FUTSAL Football action in this year’s sixth edition of the Banks DIH sponsored Georgetown Guinness ‘Greatest of De Streets’ tournament has reached the quarterfinals stage, which will be contested Sunday night at the Demerara Car Park, known as the home of Futsal football.Eight teams, namely the unbeaten Sparta Boss, North Ruimveldt, West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’, Cross Street, Festival City Warriors, Globe Yard and Albouystown ‘B’, have booked their places in the quarterfinals, ensuring they remain in the hunt for the $500,000 top prize and a place in the national playoffs.
The second, third and fourth placed finishers is set to pocket $300,000, $200,000 and $100,00 respectively, while all four teams will collect trophies and the second placed team will join the winners in the national playoffs.
In last Wednesday night’s round of 16 action at the National Cultural Centre tarmac, Leopold Street defeated Festival City Street Fighters 3-2 on sudden death penalty kicks, following a nil all stalemate, while Cross Street won with a 1-0 margin over West Back Road, after both sides played to a 1-1 scoreline.
Ronaldo Dover scored the equalising goal for Cross Street in the 34th minute, handing them a lifeline in the process, after Akeem ‘Too Cute’ Fitzpatrick had found the back of the small box goal for West Back Road in the 30th minute of play.
A Rickford Jones 4th minute goal was all North Ruimveldt needed to defeat Hope Street-Tiger Bay 1-0, with Colin Nelson’s 23rd minute strike handing West Front Road ‘Gold is Money’ a similar margin of victory over Island All-Stars.
Following the Guinness break, Globe Yard and Albouystown ‘A’ played to a nil all draw, but Globe Yard held their nerves to win the penalty kicks shoot out 2-1, a game that was followed by Albouystown ‘B’ issuing Back Circle with their marching orders, thanks to Marlon Nedd’s 32nd minute goal.
Festival City Street Warriors proved to be just that, as they battled their way to a commanding 2-0 victory over Alexander Village, courtesy of goals from Eon Alleyne (1st) and Dwayne Lawrence (15th).
The final game of the night brought together the unbeaten Sparta Boss and South Sophia, who like Cross Street, was given a lifeline back into the tournament, following the expulsion of Broad Street Bullies and North East LaPenitence for un-sportsmanlike conduct.
However, while Cross Street made good use of their opportunity to come away with the win, South Sophia were not so fortunate as goals from Sheldon Shepherd (19th) and Devon ‘Don Don’ Millington (23rd), sent them packing from the tournament for a second time.
The Skills Challenge category of the tournament is still in action, but this time players and non-players can compete for the top prize of $20,000, while the sponsors has introduced a Fair Play Award of $50,000 as well for this year’s edition.
Sunday night’s quarterfinals matchup will see Leopold Street meeting West Front Road, Cross Street and Festival City Street Warriors doing battle, North Ruimveldt facing Globe Yard and Sparta Boss clashing with Albouystown ‘B’.
These matches will be preceded by several exhibition matches, while the semi-finals will be held three days later at the National Cultural Centre tarmac and the National Park will host the finals, third place encounter and exhibition matches next Saturday.

(By Calvin Roberts)