NEW champions will be crowned in this year’s GFF STAG Beer Super 16 tournament, after Buxton United stunned defending champs Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 3-2, when the two met on ‘Christmas Day’ at the Golden Grove ground.

National U-20 player Kelsey Benjamin’s lone strike on the stroke of halftime was enough to send Western Tigers through to the quarter-finals, following their 1-0 win over Ann’s Grove.

With the game level at two goals apiece in the closing stages in extra time (90+5 minutes), Jamar Harrigon collected a ‘long ball’ on a counterattack and made good of his volley which was timely placed over the head of the advancing Delon Adams in goal for the Army.

It was a fitting ending for the best games so far in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) year-end tournament, after Buxton United took the lead in the 23rd minute, thanks to Ronaldo Fredericks.

Shamar Fraser then doubled the score for the East Coast side when he converted from the penalty spot in the 43rd minute, but things went downhill for the Army, since they lost Shawn Arthur, who picked up a red card in the 58th minute for a disagreement with the referee.

Meanwhile, Buxton United brought the GDF back into the game when they scored an ‘own goal’ and made the score 2-2 in the 86th minute off the cleat of Delroy Fraser.

The tournament continued last evening at the Leonora Track and Field Centre and will conclude on January 1 with the final at a venue to be named by the GDF.