Galaticos crowned inaugural ExxonMobil Futsal champions

The final night of action in the International Futsal Festival had patrons on the edge of their seats as the deciding matches unfolded before their eyes. When the dust settled, the Brazilian team, Galacticos, were the ones to take the crown on Sunday after a night of riveting futsal action.
The Kashif and Shangai organised Guyana Football Federation (GFF) – ExxonMobil International Futsal Festival began on December 27 with eight teams vying for the $1.2 million grand prize.
In the semi-finals, the Brazilian squad edged out a determined Georgetown All-Stars team 4-2. In the second semi, T&T barely got past Guyana All-Stars in a 6-5

encounter.
In the Galacticos-Georgetown All-Stars match-up, Romailson De Jesus of the Brazilian team was the first to score in the fifth minute while his teammate, Raphael Copes followed suit 10 minutes later. The half expired with the score on 2-0. National player Jeremy Garrett then attempted a mountainous feat as the youngster placed one past the goalposts. However, his effort was negated by Brazil’s Arckson Andreazza, who pushed the score to 3-1 in the 33rd minute. Garrett then netted a second goal, but it went in vain as Raphael Copes also collected another goal for the Brazilian win.
On the other hand, it was an intense battle between Guyana All-Stars and Trinidad and Tobago. Colin Nelson opened the scoring for Guyana in the 12th minute and by the half, Eusi Phillips and Daniel Wilson had both contributed one to the 3-1 tally. However, the tables were turned in the second half as Trinidad fought hard to advance. Jerwyn Ballhazar and Kerry Joseph both netted doubles while Rondell Elcock found the back of the net once to push Trinidad to six goals and a win.
This meant the final contest would boil down to Brazil taking on Trinidad and Tobago while Georgetown All-Stars battled Guyana All-Stars for third place.
The final was just another day in the office for Galacticos as they remained undefeated to take the championship. The first half was dull, but Lucas Martins returned in the second to score his team’s first goal in the 25th minute. Andreazza and Maxivon Carvalho netted back-to-back goals in the 30th and 31st minutes to push the score to 3-0. Jamal Williams was the lone voice for Trinidad with a goal in the 35th. Raphael Lopes ended on a high note for Galacticos contributing one for the 4-1 win.
The third-place playoff was undeniably the best game of the night as spectators were treated to 20 goals within the 40-minute period.
Gregory “Jackie Chan” Richardson opened the onslaught for Georgetown in the first minute, Hubert Pedro had a double by the 13th and Pernel Shultz connected with the goal thrice. Jeremey Garrett contributed one to push their halftime tally to seven.
Guyana on the other hand, had five compliments of Andrew Murray, Darren Benjamin, Rudy Allvin and Daniel Wilson.
The game intensified in the second half, but Georgetown proved to be the more resilient side as they connected another five goals to seal a 13-7 win and the third-place trophy.