While the GT Panthers enjoyed their first win of the Limacol Football Tournament, Northern Rangers and Buxton Stars had to settle for shared points after Wednesday evening’s action.
The excitement in the GT Panthers vs Beacon game came in the final minutes
Two late goals on both sides of the field brought excitement to the Ministry of Education Ground on Carifesta Avenue when GT Panthers faced off with Beacons FC in their round 2 encounter.
Vincent Thomas got the score sheet ticking in the 7th minute when he gave GT Panthers the early advantage; and the GT Panthers in turn worked tirelessly to hold on to the lead, and did so well into the second half.
But just when it seemed as though the encounter would end with the 1-0 score, Beacons’ Rawle Adams slipped one past the Panthers’ goalkeeper to level the scores in the 85th minute.
However, with GT Panthers intent on bagging the full points, Anson Lynch hit one on target in the 90th minute for a 2-1 win.
The back-and-forth scoring in the following game greatly entertained the sizable crowd, but when the final whistle blew, neither side was able to walk away with the victory.
Buxton Stars’ Captain Jumali Major opened the scoring for the East Coast team in the 14th minute, but the scores were equalised by Keith Caines in the 29th minute.
Soon after, Akeel Pinheiro netted another for Northern Rangers in the 32nd minute, and Anthony Sancho found the back of the net in the 42nd, just before the half, for a 3-1 score.
But the Buxton Stars would not go quietly into the night. Their second goal came off the boots of Neil Hutson in the 56th minute, and Shemar Scott levelled the scores in the 67th minute.
Thereafter, neither side could summon enough reserves of strength and skill to strike another goal, resulting in the 3-3 draw.
The New GPC-sponsored tournament is now heading into its third round of games, after which the knockouts will commence. Eight teams will advance to the quarterfinals before those are chopped down to the semis, and eventually the final showdown.
This tournament, also supported by WJ Enterprise, will see the winner walking away with $400,000. Second place will receive $200,000, while third place gets $100,000. Fourth place will receive $50,000.
