FOOTBALL fans flooded the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) Camp Ayanganna ground on Wednesday to witness two interesting match-ups, with one team having a point to prove and the other whose mission is to maintain their dominance in the STAG Elite League. With much controversy surrounding their club, Slingerz FC, in a point-proving performance, trounced the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 5-0 in the opening game of the double-header.
In the night’s second encounter, Pele FC dominated Alpha United to win 3-0.

It was the second time the respective teams were facing each other and ironically their previous meetings ended in draws; Alpha United and Pele (2-2) and GFC and Slingerz FC 0-0.
After threatening to pull out of the league, Slingerz FC’s owner, Javed Ali, had a change of heart and allowed his side to further participate, stating that they will be doing so under protest.
The team had struggled to find goals in the league and, though touted by pundits to be playing the best football so far, their usual tactics never resulted in many goals – until they faced GFC.
Veteran forward Anthony ‘Awo’ Abrams, getting his first of the league, after coming off the bench in his club’s seven previous matches, headed home his side’s opening goal in the 21st minute.
The half ended 1-0 and the second half saw Slingerz FC pressure the GFC defence and had their lead extended to 2-0 when midfield player Vurlon Mills scored a spectacular header in the 54th minute.
Second half substitute Dexroy Adams was in a no-nonsense mood, scoring two goals in two minutes and then Dominican international Julian Wade scored the Vergenoegen club’s fifth goal.
Slingerz FC’s performance had their boss in ‘awe’, as they moved to third in the standings with 12 points behind Pele (17) and Alpha United (14). The team will head to the West Coast of Berbice on Sunday in an attempt to clinch their fifth win of the league, against Monedderlust at the Number 5 ground.
Meanwhile, in a performance unlike any other in the league so far, Pele FC turned the ‘hammer’ on Alpha United, blanking them 3-0.
The league’s leading goalscorer Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson (seven goals) did not score for his club but he was instrumental in all the goals that were scored.
It was obvious that Alpha United’s primary target on the pitch was Richardson, and why not? After all, he did score two classic goals in their previous meeting to salvage a 2-2 draw for Pele.
But not to be contained, Richardson had his way with the defence, forcing Alpha United goalkeeper to make a few early saves.
Being hampered by Wayne Dover’s sturdy defence, Richardson, like a true gladiator, bullied his way into his 18-yard box before finding Ronel Gordon, who hammered in Pele’s first goal in the 15th minute.
It was obvious who had the crowd’s support when they roared in appreciation of the opening goal.
Three minutes later, Richardson was again giving the defence trouble, but his shot on goal was blocked by the keeper. As a result the ball landed in the path of Jermaine Somerset, who doubled the score.
Alpha United answered immediately after conceding their second goal but Delon Lanferman’s goal was disallowed with the referee’s assistant raising his flag to indicate the player was in the offside position.
The few Alpha United fans were not in favour of the assistant’s call, claiming that the club’s leading goalscorer was not in breach of the rules.
At halftime, the scoreboard read Alpha United 0, Pele FC 2.
The second half was no different and Pele kept their composure and pressed for more goals. Richardson came close to adding to his goal tally when his clinically slipped the ball by the two defenders and then sent his right-footed shot flat and hard to goal, but the ball missed by mere inches.
Nonetheless, it was all about Pele, as Jamaal Cozier put the finishing touches in the 86th minute.
The win extended Pele’s lead at the top while Alpha United suffered their first loss in the STAG Elite League.