GFC beat Riddim Squad, Police edge Santos to book semi-final spots

Corona Beer Invitational Tournament

By Michelangelo Jacobus

GFC and Police FC have joined Western Tigers and Northern Rangers in the semi-finals of the Corona Beer Invitational football tournament after they won their respective quarter-final matchups on Sunday evening at the Georgetown Football Club ground, Bourda.
In the first match of the night, it was a close contest between Police FC and Santos FC. The first half of the game was goalless but when the second half resumed, the two sides played at a frantic pace and both missed a couple of chances.

However, it was Santos who would draw first blood through Sherwin Skeet in the 55th minute but Police soon responded after a woeful display of goalkeeping from the Santos custodian.
Quincy Holder bundled home from a corner in the 57th minute after the keeper failed to clear his lines to spark life into the Police side. Holder added a second in the 77th minute after the Santos keeper again failed to hold on to a free kick.
The second match of the night was a one-sided affair with GFC defeating a lackluster Riddim Squad by a 5-2 margin
GFC’s talented striker Benjamin Opara has established himself as a ruthless finisher in front of goal having scored in three successive games prior to Sunday’s game and he continued the form in the opening minutes with and excellent strike. Opara first took on two defenders before rifling home past the motionless Riddim Squad keeper to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute.
Just a minute later; Opara headed into the back of the net from a corner to completely take the game away from Riddim Squad and firmly hand his side the advantage at 2-0.
Joel Humphrey was the next GFC player to get a goal in the 42nd minute while Dwayne Rebeiro netted in the 52nd minute. Riddim Squad briefly fought back with Kevin Gordon and Sceyon Hope scoring a goal each, but by then it was too late as Opara completed his hat-trick in the 72nd minute.
GFC will now play the undefeated Northern Rangers in the first semi-final on Sunday, September 10 at the GFC Ground while Western Tigers will play rivals Police FC at the same venue immediately after.
Kickoff is at 19:00hrs and the four teams are battling for cash prizes in excess of $2 Million.