Old rivalries will be reignited and tensions will reach boiling point when the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) Super 16 Cup moves one step closer to a curtain call with the semifinal action being staged this evening.
Guyana Police Force FC
The Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground at Bourda will be the venue for two extraordinary clashes, beginning at 18:30hrs and 21:00hrs respectively, as four teams battle for a shot at the two-million-dollar grand prize.
Georgetown clubs Santos and Fruta Conquerors have had quite a number of rivalries for 2019, especially in the Under-20 department, where they took turns in championing various tournaments.
However, tonight’s clash will be the real decider, and their more experienced players will be on show as each club looks to go ‘one up’ over the other for a final time this year.
The second fixture will definitely have an authoritative flair, as the two law enforcement services of the nation battle it out on the football field.
Both GDF and Police have been among the top-ranking teams this year, but with two million dollars at stake, such a prize is certain to bring out the best in the lawmen.
If the semis are anything like the quarterfinal plays, then starved football fans are in for a year-end treat.
Elite League 2019 champions Fruta Conquerors FC were the first to secure their semifinal spot, as they trampled Linden’s Milerock FC on Christmas Day.
After Eon Alleyne had opened the scoring in the first minute of play, the show was Delon Lanferman’s, whose hat trick was secured by goals netted in the 40th, 75th and 85th minutes to seal Fruta’s four goals.
The once optimistic Linden side had no reply for the Elite champions, as they failed to find the back of the net after a handful of chances.
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) FC arrested the Buxton United outfit from the East Coast of Demerara in a close 2-1 encounter in which a winner was decided in additional time.
Buxton United drew first blood by way of 17-year-old Omari Glasgow’s 61st minute goal. However, the Buxton team’s lead was short-lived, as GDF’s Benjamin Opara evened out the scores four minutes later.
With a semifinal spot hanging in the balance, Buxton United worked hard to hold off the dominant GDF, who took shots at the goal as if in official combat.
Buxton’s luck ran out in the final minutes of the game, as Sherwin Caesar netted the winning goal for GDF in 90+1 of additional time.
The question of whether or not the Super 16 tournament would see a new champion being crowned on January 1st was answered by Georgetown’s Santos FC sending 2018/2019 winners Den Amstel FC packing following a 3-0 thrashing.
Much of the first half went without fireworks, until Orin Yarde broke the ice in the 43rd minute, just before the break. Stephon Reynolds capitalized on that momentum and opened the second segment with another goal for Santos in the 47th.
While there was still room for a comeback, the defending champions upped their game in a bid to level the scores; but luck was not on their side, as the Santos goal keeper and defense remained unbeaten.
Kester Jacobs added the final Santos goal in the 90th+2 for their 3-0 victory.
Undeniably one of the most anticipated games of the quarterfinal, Police arrested rivals Western Tigers in a 2-1 encounter that was decided in extra time.
Western Tigers had a point to prove, after losing some of their more prominent players to other teams. Andrew Murray gave the ‘back road’ team a life in the 89th, as he levelled the scores. Prior to Murray’s goal, Daniel Wilson had netted first for the law officers.
With regulation time completed, the nail-biting match was plunged into extra time. It was here that Trayon Bobb played hero, scoring the deciding goal in the 111th for the Police victory.
Sponsors of this tournament include MACORP; Pegasus Hotel; Brass, Aluminum and Cast Iron Foundry (BACIF); THAG; Marics and Company; NAMILCO; Impressions; and Hits and Jams.
