By Joe Chapman

BOTAFAGO routed Blueberry Hill United 7-3, as Capital FC downed Topp XX 3-2, to reach this year’s Upper Demerara Football Association-promoted Banks DIH Christmas Futsal championship, when the semifinals were played on Sunday night at the Community Hard Court in Retrieve, Linden.
In the first semifinal of the night, Botafago within the first minute jumped ahead as a Jamal Haynes’ right-side shot rocked the back of the net, for a 1-0 lead.
But Blueberry Hill United were able to level things just one minute later through a Rondell Arthur goal for a 1-1 score-line.
Within the first ten minutes of the second period of play Botafago had softened Blueberry Hill’s challenge to take a 7-2 lead, but Blueberry Hill would net one more goal as they lost 7-3.
For the winning Botafago side Donovan Francis and Malachi Todd both got doubles, and Jamal Haynes, Shane Haynes and S. Caesar each netted once.
Rondell and Raydell Arthur and Shaka Lewis each got a goal for the losing Blueberry Hill United unit.
Soon after, Capital FC, through their captain, Emmanuel Atkins, would double that lead for a 2-0 advantage, but with about four minutes left for the first half, Ryan Arthur would pull one back for Topp XX.
But soon after Orlanzo Thorman increased the lead giving Capital FC a 3-1 half time advantage.
Topp XX tried their best to get back into the game, but their only success came with under four minutes to go, through another Ryan Arthur goal, as the game ended 3-2 for Capital FC who will now challenge Botafago for the championship title on New Year’s Night, while the losing semi-finalists Topp XX and Blueberry Hill United, will battle for third place, at the tournament venue, the Community Hard Court, Retrieve in Linden.