THE excitement of year-end football made a grand return to the mining town of Linden, with the staging of the UDFA/GT Beer Football Cup, which kicked off on Sunday at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground. Thousands gathered at Region 10’s premier venue and witnessed Kwakwani Strikers tame Retrieve Lions 4-0, and Train Line defeat Vasco 2-1.
Playing in the opening match of the third installation of the GT Beer-sponsored tournament, Dale Sauers netted the game’s first goal just five minutes into the contest.
Roy Leacock who made light work of the Retrieve Lions’ defence through the night, scored two goals (36th and 63rd minutes) while Shane Adams found the back of the net in the 70th minute to cap a lopsided affair in favour of the team from the Berbice River.
Kwakwani Strikers, following their win on Sunday, will now play Silver Shattas on Boxing Night (December 26).
In the second game of the night Anil Hatton netted in the 24th minute to give Train Line the advantage when he headed in a corner taken by Shawn Stephens.
And just when the massive crowd felt that the first half would have ended 1-0, Vasco team equalised through a 45th minute goal which came off the boot of Kevin Cadogan.
However, the game swung back in favour of Train Line in the 58th minute as Chavez Hescott finished a cross from Hatton which went past the last post to score.
Train Line booked their place in the quarter-finals following their 2-1 win over Vasco, and will now face Topp XX on December 26.
The collaboration between the UDFA and Banks DIH will see fourteen teams vie for cash prizes and trophies.
The winners will pocket $800 000, while second-placers will cart off $500 000. Third-placers will be awarded $300 000 while the team in fourth position will walk away with $200 000h.
All matches will be played at the MSC ground. Other playing nights are December 18, 20, 26, 27, semi-finals on December 30 and the final on January 1, 2016.
