The best two sides of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF)/ Kashif and Shanghai Organisation year-end football tournament, Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC and Western Tigers FC, played the January 1, 2022 final on a knife’s edge.

At the end of the exhilarating contest, the defending champions from 2019, repeated as champions after a 5-4 penalty shootout at the National Track and Field Facility, Leonora.

Tigers, who many felt had the depth to win the title, took early advantage from the boots of Kevon Woodley in the 16th minute but it wasn’t to be the only crowd pleaser in the half as 20 minutes later, Collin Nelson found the equalizer.

It kept swaying both ways as the attacking prowess of both teams were on show but even extra time could not break the deadlock.

When Western Tigers missed their third penalty kick, it was all GDF’s to lose and they certainly kept a cool head to now control the lien trophy.

For the win, GDF copped G$2 million and the championship trophy, while Western Tigers collected G$1 million and the runner-up trophy.

In the third-place playoff, West Demerara side, Dem Amstel defeated Police FC 2-0.

Gideon Payne was the man on target for Den Amstel, tucking in goals in the 24th and 77th minutes.

The tournament had 19 teams; all involved from fans, organisers, and players had to be vaccinated.