MCYS/ANSA McAL June Madness Futsal Championship: 4-man Linden All Star outlast Show Stoppers in riveting PK duel

– round of 32 to start Wednesday

Sunday night action in the inaugural June Madness Futsal Championship powered by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and ANSA McAL was nothing short of epic as the final six matches in the first round marinated the atmosphere.

Fans and players alike soaked up some riveting action especially in the third match of the night between Linden All Stars and Show Stoppers. Linden were limited in terms of firepower from the onset as they only had five players available while their opponents had their full complement.
It would have seemed like a setback for the side that travelled a few hours to play, but they showed grit and determination to book a place in the next round. Damien Williams fired Linden into the lead in just the first minute and that advantage was doubled in the fourth minute when Omar Williams netted the first of his hat-trick.
Show Stoppers pulled one back off the boots of Yannick Norton in the 11th minute and then were again on target in the 19th to bring them level. With the score locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time, extra time was needed to arrive at a winner.

Even with this being required, Show Stoppers would have fancied their chances of victory but that was not to be as Linden All Stars found the will to battle, play for play. Four of the Linden players were issued yellow cards in the first half for not wearing shin pads and when the scorer of their first goal, Damien Williams received a second card with 5’ 13” on the clock to full time, it meant that they were further constrained, now having to play with just four players.
It certainly was not a setback for them. Omar Williams netted his second in the first minute of extra time, but two minutes later, Show Stoppers’ Darius Chester drew them level at 3-3. With just one minute remaining in the allotted 10 minutes of extra time, Lamar Phillips handed Show Stoppers the lead and they felt that that was enough for the win.

However, Omar Williams’s shot across the Show Stoppers’ goal nestled in the back of the net on the buzzer and while the initial call by the referee was to disallow the goal, the fans and players erupted in support of a goal.
Earnest deliberations for a few minutes eventually saw the referee signalling to the centre confirming that the goal stood, much to the delight of all and sundry. The ensuing kicks from the penalty mark saw Linden All Stars converting their four, with Show Stoppers only being able to convert three, handing the Linden team a memorable win and a place in the next round.
The round of 32, which will feature the first-round winners against the top 16 seeded teams, is set to kick off on Wednesday at the same venue. Albouystown will open against Bent Street B at 20:00h.
This would be followed by Spaniards facing Stabroek B, Game Changers v Stabroek Ballers, Corinthians taking on Espanyol and Youngs Stars challenging Gold is Money.
The following are the full results from Sunday night.