… Back Circle, Leopold Street play for third place

COMING into their respective semi-final encounters, both Ol Skool Ballers and Future Stars made it clear that they are not intimidated by big names and Tuesday night’s results clearly justified their billing as the best young teams in the indoor format.

When the semi-finals of the inaugural Guinness Cage/Three Peat Promotions Indoor Championship were played on Saturday night, at the National Gymnasium, futsal fans got a glimpse of the future kings of the format as Ol Skool Ballers first outlasted the experienced Back Circle 3-2 in an enthralling slugfest that went right down to the final minute of play.
Captain Roy Cassou, who has been one of the most consistent and prolific goalscorers in the futsal format, gave his team the lead in the 10th minute, before Quason McAulay added another two minutes later to send shockwaves through the Back Circle band of supporters.
However, Back Circle hit back through Stephon McLean, who netted a brace in the game. He opened his account in the 17th minute to reduce the deficit by one.
The young Ballers side went to the half clinging to a slim one-goal advantage and everyone present knew that the Andy Duke-led Back Circle were planning an offensive assault in the final period.

They did just that, but time and again the Ballers defensive tenacity repelled every attack, before they extended their lead when Fabian Crawford’s goal five minutes from full time gave them the cushion they needed.
Again Back Circle would not relent and McLean was in the act once again, netting one minute from the final whistle to put some more intrigue into the electrifying encounter.
However, in the end it was a little too late as referee Wayne Griffith’s whistle sounded shortly after to hand Ol Skool Ballers a well-deserved spot in the final.
The other semi-final between the resurrected Leopold Street and Future Stars lived up to all expectations despite no goals were scored in regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout that the latter won 2-1 to set up a mouthwatering showdown against Ol Skool Ballers on Saturday.

Tournament leading goalscorer Okanie Fraser was kept at bay all night as the Stars never lost sight of where he was, employing a two-man assignment whenever he had the ball and it worked effectively.
The same could be said for Leopold Street’s tactics against the likes of opposing captain Keiron Solomon and his supporting cast of Jamal Cozier, Akeemo Anthony and Jermaine Junior.

They too were held in check, before prevailing in the penalty shootout.
It promises to be a sizzling final, while the third-place playoff also has some amount of interest in terms of bragging rights.
The two games will be preceded by five exhibition matches among them being a grudge encounter between two dominoes teams.
The winners will receive $400 000 and the championship trophy, while the runners-up, third- and fourth-place finishers will collect $200 000, $100 000 and $50 000 respectively.
The Most Valuable Player (MVP) will receive a gold chain compliment of YK Investments and Pawn Shop and a trophy from Trophy Stall.

Among the other sponsors on board are: Star Party Rentals, Faye Joseph, Claude Geddes Recreational Sports Club, National Sports Commission, Windjammer International Hotel & Cuisine, E-Networks, Woodpecker Trophies & Sport, Y.K Investments & Pawn Shop, Henry Chase, Jai Signs, Trophy Stall, the Bike Shop and John Fernandes Ltd.
Meanwhile, the organisers continue to extend thanks to the sponsors, fans and ranks of the Guyana Police Force for their support throughout the championship.
Action starts at 20:00hrs.

The night’s full results:

Game 1:
Ol Skool Ballers 3 Back Circle 2
Ol Skool scorers
Roy Cassou – 10th
Quason McAulay – 12th
Fabian Crawford – 45th
Back Circle scorer
Stephan McLean – 17th and 49th

Game-2:
Future Stars 0 Leopold Street 0
Future won 2-1 on penalty kicks