IT was a rainy night, not in Georgia but in Georgetown, as goals rained down when the STAG Nations Cup five association knock-out football championship continued last Sunday night at the Tucville Community ground.The rain had not abated but that was no bother to Western Tigers and Santos who had downed their respective opponents, Flamingo and Herstelling Raiders, by 8-0 and 4-0 margins, to book their places in the quarterfinals on Christmas and Boxing Day at the Tucville and Buxton grounds.
Western Tigers were not daunted by the fact that Flamingo, on account of Shem Porter’s goal – the best goal in the championship to date – had defeated Mahaicony Thunders of Berbice on the opening day of the competition at the Golden Grove ground.
Coming up against the Tigers would have always been a monumental task given their recent run of form in the Georgetown FA Premier League. As the pundits had predicted, Western Tigers made light work of the Flamingos, prevailing 8-0.
Randolph Wagner led the Tigers with a second-half double in the 55th and 67th minutes but the platform for the win and quarter-final place – which will see them take on the winners of tomorrow’s match between Pouderoyen and Mahaica Determinators – was set up by the two first-half goals which were scored by Andre Webber (12) and Dwayne McLennon in the 34th minute.
The other goalscorers were Rensford Coleridge (72), Shamar Wilson (83), Darren Benjamin (85) and Anthony Sancho, two minutes to full time.
Santos took care of Herstelling Raiders 4-0 and had sealed the deal by the end of the first 45 minutes by which time they built up a 3-0 advantage with a brace from Keith Caines in the 7th and 32nd minutes while Orin Yarde had netted the first of his two in the 14th minute.
Yarde completed his brace in the 78th minute as Herstelling found it difficult to break down the 10-man Santos unit; the latter losing one of their players who received a straight red card in the closing moments of the first half.
Santos’ quarterfinal opponents would be the winners of the tomorrow’s main event between Uitvlugt Warriors and City side Northern Rangers at the Leonora Track and Field Facility.
The Pouderoyen vs Mahaica Determinators showdown is the supporting match on tomorrow night’s double-header card.
The final day of round-of-16 action is set for Friday at the Diamond ground when Ann’s Grove take on Den Amstel from 18:00hrs and Grove Hi Tech match skills with New Amsterdam United.
The quarter-finals schedule is as follows:
Team: Western Tigers vs winner of Pouderoyen/Mahaica
Date: December 25
Venue: Tucville
Team: Determinators Police vs winner of Grove Hi Tech/NA United
Date: December 25
Venue: Tucville
Team: Santos vs winner of Uitvlugt/Northern Rangers
Date: December 26
Venue: Buxton
Team: Riddim Squad vs winner of Ann’s Grove/Den Amstel
Date: December 26
Venue: Buxton