Nigel `Powers’ Codrington powered Pele into the final of the Annual Mayor’s Cup knockout football tournament with a hat-trick that enabled his team to secure a massive 7-0 win over East Coast champions Victoria Kings.
The city side, Pele, will meet city counterparts Fruta Conquerors in the final billed for Sunday at the GFC ground.
Fruta Conquerors edged Linden’s Topp XX 2-1 in their semi-final fixture on Wednesday also.
In Wednesday’s feature game of the double header card, Pele attacked the North Road end of the GFC ground while the East Coast champions showed intentions of physical confrontations, rather than the attributes of useful buildups.
As such, it was no surprise when Pele’s free flowing game paid dividends in the 27th minute through a Codrington goal which was doubled five minutes later to give his team a 2-0 lead at the interval.
With a 2-0 lead going into the second session, the eventual winners shifted gear and completely outplayed their opponents in every department.
Calvin Shepherd added Pele’s third goal in the 60th minute and 11 minutes later Codrington who was the Digicel Caribbean Cup Runner- up MVP completed his hat-trick.
With the flood doors opened, and the hapless East Coast team demoralized by the score line, they were unable to cope with the onslaught and lost the services of their custodian Andrew Durant.
Pele’s Gregory Richardson, whose frequent runs had tormented the opponents’ defence, tucked in a double within four minutes (76th and 80th), while Konata Mannings accounted for the seventh goal three minutes before regulation time.
The 7-0 victory is the largest margin of victory to date in this year’s tournament as it surpasses the 5-0 demolition of
Camptown by Pele in a quarter-final fixture.
Earlier, the tournament’s defending champions Fruta Conquerors, reduced to 10 men after 37 minutes when Gerald Gittens was ejected, remained composed to keep the score line goalless at the interval.
However, five minutes into the second session, Jomo Hinds gave the defending champions a 1-0 lead which was increased 23 minutes later by a Vernon Mills’ goal.
Topp XX’s consolation goal came six minutes before the final whistle through a classic acrobatic right foot volley from an aerial, right side cross that was converted by Shevane Seaforth.
Topp XX and Victoria Kings will meet in the third place play off on Sunday.
The winning team will be rewarded with $500,000 and the Mayor’s trophy.
