GREGORY ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson was his usual destructive self, on Saturday evening, when he wreak havoc in the National Gymnasium to propel Sparta Boss to a 4 – 3 come-from-behind victory over Gold is Money, to claim this year’s GT Beer ‘Keep Yah Five Alive’ Futsal title and the tournament’s $550,000 first place prize.
After going up 3 – 1 through goals from Jermain Junior in the 5th and 7th minutes, and Randolph Wagner in the 22nd minute, Gold is Money had a second-half collapse, which saw Richardson stepping up to the plate.
Sheldon Shepherd had first put things in Sparta’s favour before Junior and Wagner pulled things back for Gold is Money, but Richardson made it 3 – 2 in the 24th minute, while one minute later, Ryan Hackett brought the scores level.
With the crowd on its feet, Richardson, one of Guyana’s finest to ever play the 11-v-11 format, closed the deal for Sparta Boss with a rocket in the 42nd minute.
Meanwhile, in the first semi-final, Sparta Boss made light work of Future Stars 5 – 1, and Gold is Money easily disposed of Bent Street 2–0 to set-up a mouth-watering final.
Gold is Money had to settle for $250,000 and a trophy. In the third place game, Bent Street rumped to a 6 – 1 win over Future Stars to go home with $125,000. Future Stars, for their effort, left the venue with $75,000.