You can always tell the quality of a football game by the scorecard at the finish. Often, the toughest and most entertaining games are the ones that go nil all into extra time and penalties, or the ones that see a goal in the dying minutes.
Yes, games with a 7-0 margin are enthralling, but there’s just something about the teams and fans erupting in joy at the scoring of a single goal after biting their nails nervously when missed opportunities went a begging.
The Champions receiving their trophy from Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr
So was the case on Friday evening at the National Stadium, Providence, as the Linden All Stars and the Georgetown All Stars locked horns in the final of the ‘Bounce back to Football Classic’.
The New Year final not only brought a dose of football to its patient fans, but it also created a platform for players to stretch their legs ahead of a packed international calendar for the Guyana Senior Men’s National Team.
While it is clear that the players were out of competition stride for just about 10 months, owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the star-studded final encounter looked like school football at first, slothful and slow to start.
Nicholas Mc Arthur 19 was the joint highest goal scorer
The momentum grew midway in the first segment, but from the looks of it, every striker was having an off day, as their finishing lacked skill. Much credit, however, should be given to the goalkeepers Alex Murray and Sese Norville, who, along with their respective defenses, kept at bay any goal attempt.
Rain came and went, and yet the handful of in-person spectators and officials didn’t witness a goal as the remaining minutes in the first half elapsed.
A glimpse of the final action between Georgetown and Linden
Action time
In Tuesday’s game against West Demerara All Stars, Daniel Anthony sank a marvellous freekick to bring up Georgetown’s winning goal. At the beginning of the second half on Friday, the Georgetown Captain attempted a similar shot, which was barely punched out by Sese Norville.
This seemed to be a wake-up call for Linden, as the upped their urgency towards the goal.
Abumuchi Benjamin and Jermain Junor set up a lodging, rent free, within the 18-yard box, and had many chances to sink a goal, but their knocks on the door of the promised land went unanswered on every attempt.
Meanwhile, Nicholas McArthur and Dorwin George were the victims of a similar fate, their inability to find the back of the net growing with each passing play.
The flag, ref!
Whether it was a case of a flag unheeded or the referee making a conscious decision that it was not good enough to call a foul, only Sherlock Holmes could tell, but Georgetown soon saw their saving grace unfold.
In direct sequence, a player fell, rolled, and the linesman soon shot his flag into the air, waving vigorously; but, to Linden’s dismay, the whistle never sounded to pause play, and with the opposition distracted, Kelsay Benjamin played Houdini with the ball, getting away from the nearest defender, Colin Nelson.
Instead of going straight on, Benjamin outfoxed Nelson in the corner, and took the ball wide before attempting his shot at the goal.
Kelsey Benjamin (11) as he approached the nets moments before striking the winning goal
Norville, who was impeccable with the gloves until this moment, slipped and the ball went through, unharmed into the net for the only goal of the game in the 69th. While the goal was met by a removed shirt from Benjamin and cheers from the Georgetown support team, Linden begged and pleaded with the referee, but the deed was done.
Thereafter, Linden ruled possession as they scampered to find the equalising goal, but every shot at the nets went high and wide.
Clearly having an off-night, Benjamin’s substitution came a little too late, with his replacement showing more promise in front of the goal than his predecessor had.
Linden’s most distinct opportunity to equalise came when a corner was granted and the kick was lofted over the head of the players gathered outside the net. Appearing as though it would sail in, the ball diverted midair and, instead of making its way into the nets, hit the crossbar and bounced just outside the line of the goal.
A battle on the defensive line
Minutes later, another corner kick opportunity came just as close, but Alex Murray once again displayed his brilliance in the net, keeping a Linden goal at bay.
The final whistle was eventually sounded, and heads were bowed, some in disappointment and some in silent prayers of thanksgiving; but the result was that the Capital City team would take home the Trophy Stall-sponsored trophy.
For his final heroics, Kelsey Benjamin was adjudged the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP), while Abumuchi Benjamin and Nicholas Mc Arthur shared the most goals trophy for their two goals apiece scored over the two- day tournament.
In the end, Norville still walked away with the prizes for best save and best goalkeeper.
The Champions, Georgetown, received a trophy, medals and a $1M cash prize, while the runners-up, Linden, settled for $500,000.
The tournament’s sponsors included, ExxonMobil, KFC, Mohamed’s Enterprise, Tiger Rentals, Trophy Stall and Ground Structures Engineering Inc.
