TWO SETS of breathtaking quarter-final matches take place today and tomorrow at the Mackenzie Sports Club (MSC) ground, as action in the Upper Demerara Football Association/GT Beer Supa 16 Knock Out Christmas football championship nears the end.

Tonight’s action brings together last year’s runners-up club Milerock and Hi Stars in the second game that kicks off at 21:00hrs, with the first at 19:00hrs, pitting Bakewell Topp XX against Net Rockers.

Tomorrow night, the second set of quarter-final matches will kick off at the same time as tonight’s action, with Silver Shattas meeting Eagles United in the first game followed by defending champions Winners Connection opposing Botofago in the second.

Interestingly, tonight’s first game brings together Net Rockers, who were given a bye to this stage, against the surprise team Bakewell Topp XX , whose reputation one felt would have necessitated them being among the first-choice teams, but they were nearly not included.

Topp XX got into the frame of the championship after Mahdia pulled out and Topp XX have now won two games to reach this far.

Their opponents Net Rockers must be wary of this new-look Topp XX, as for the first time in Topp XX’s history of over two decades, they will be without their most decorated player Collie Hercules, the former star national player and coach who was rendered unavailable.

The former standout national is believed to be behind the scenes directing things, after being suspended along with others on the suspended Sharma Solomon UDFA, which hosted a similar tournament, last year against the wishes of the Christopher Matthias-led Guyana Football Federation.

However, the Topp XX side seem to be gelling and would want to make a statement after having to battle to reach the quarterfinals, while at the same time, Net Rockers are going to show that they deserve to be at this stage and it would be of great interest to see the actual outcome of this game.

The second game also features another side who received a bye to the quarterfinals in Milerock, whose coach Bryan Joseph was not comfortable with this as he wanted to have played earlier to help his side with some match preparedness.

This was somewhat achieved when they beat Winners Connection 2-0 in a specially arranged game at the same venue, while their opponents for tonight’s game, Hi Stars, outplayed Kwakwani Strikers to reach this stage and would be confident going into this game.

Tomorrow night’s event begins with defending champions Winners Connection taking on Botofago who prevailed against Ituni’s Peace Makers on Sunday by a 4-3 score-line, even as Winners Connection were among the four teams handed byes to the quarterfinals and could come into this game at a disadvantage not having played a game.

The second game will see the in-form Eagles United who hammered Blueberry Hill 6-1 face the challenge of Silver Shattas, who were the recipients of a bye to this stage, while the semifinals are set for Sunday at the MSC ground.