ACTION in Guyana’s first-ever national U-20 club tournament, the GFF/KFC U-20 Independence Cup, kicked off yesterday at the GFF National Training Centre, Providence, with an intense nail-biter between Timehri Panthers U-20s and Agricola Red Triangle U-20s.

Following the march past of the teams, an East Bank Football Association affair had to be decided by penalties after regulation time and extra-time could not produce a winner.

Agricola grabbed the early advantage through the boot of Randy Simon who put his side 1-0 up after just 13 minutes. In the first half no other goals were scored. However, Tyrone Burnette would get through Agricola’s defence early in the second half and equalised for the Panthers, slotting calmly past the Agricola custodian.

With no further goals recorded in regulation time and neither side finding the net in extra time, it all went down to the wire from the penalty spot. It was the Panthers who held their nerve to win 5-4 on penalties.

That matchup was the only competitive game of the day but fans were treated to an exhibition match between a select Guyana U-17 side and Elite league team Den Amstel.

Teams from each member association across the country will play in a straight knockout tournament, with the winners from each region then coming together to compete in playoffs to decide who will be crowned national champions.

The tournament, which is sponsored by KFC, part of the Beharry Group of Companies, will continue in the coming week.