The stage has been set for the two top teams, Sparta Boss and Tucville to lock horns in the final of the Xtreme Clean/GT Beer ‘Gold Rush’ Futsal Tournament at the National Gymnasium this evening.
Today’s match proves to be even more intriguing given both teams met in the group stage where Tucville won 4-2. More so, it is second meeting of the two teams in a Futsal final with Sparta edging to victory in the first encounter.
Both teams produced clinical performances at the same venue on Thursday evening to storm into the final. Sparta looked the boss as they dismantled a presumed threat in Albouystown 5-1. Eusi Philips, Solomon Austin, Gregory Richardson, Devon Millington and Dennis Edwards were marksmen for Sparta while Lennox Cort added the loser’s lone goal.
Sparta Boss’ experience told as they hammered Albouystown on their way to the finals
Playing at Formula One pace Philips immediately brought the fixture alight with a powerful shot to the low right in the second minute. Austin then increased the lead tapping in a rising ball with his left foot to the top right five minute later.
Albouystown created opportunities but lack of composure resulted in chances being wasted. The lapses gave rise to three goals in the space of six minutes for Sparta, with Richardson (23rd), Millington (25th) and Edwards (29th) all etching their name on the score sheet. Cort’s solo effort in the 28th minute gave Albouystown some consolation if any.
In the other fixture, Tucville, withstood a late surge by Sophia to win 6-4 on the back of hat-tricks by Jermaine Junior and Dennis Edwards. Omallo Williams, Desmond Cottam and Stephen Dolphin were on the mark for the opposition.
Junior was the first to score in the 4th minute with a shot to the low right which followed by a pricing strike from Edwards that shifted the goal one minute later.
Nimble footwork from Williams helped his side reduce the lead in the 7th minute but their joy was short-lived as Junior had his third in the 14th minute with an acrobatic goal that beat the diving keeper to his left.
Staring defeat in its eyes, Sophia scripted a set of plays that seemingly fazed Tucville following a barrage of shots on goal which saw two hitting the cross-bar.
However, Tucville soon after turned the tide as an unmarked Edwards sank his second from just outside the penalty area in the 30th.
That commenced the roller-coaster finish with Williams then netting two minutes later followed by Edwards in the 34th; Cottam and Dolphin then banged in goals a minute apart in the 35th and 36th respectively.
With three minutes remaining, Williams had a chance to put Tucville within grasp of victory but his shot from the penalty spot sailed over the goal.
The third place-off will be between Sophia and Albouystown .
Winner of the tournament will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy, while runner-up will receive $200,000 and the respective accolade.
The third and fourth-place finishers will respectively pocket $100,000 and $50,000.
On the individual side, $50,000 will be awarded to the Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Other sponsors of the event include Fas Grafix, Jefford’s Distribution and Sales, Giftland Distribution Store and FARMSUP Mining Investments Inc.
(Akeem Greene)
