Revenge is sweet and Alpha United relished a 1-0 victory over Bakewell Topp XX in the 18th Kashif and Shanghai Football final on New Year’s night at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground in Linden.
The preemptive strike by national striker Anthony “Awo” Abrams in the fifth minute of play secured a well-deserved win for Georgetown league champions Alpha United, who were beaten by a similar 1-0 score in the 2005-2006 final by the five-time champions Topp XX who were contesting their eighth final.
From as early as the opening whistle Alpha United made their intentions clear despite the muddy conditions as they launched a full scale attack on their opponents.
The condition of the ground was in such bad shape that the organizers were forced to call off the third place playoff between Pele and Winners Connections.
Topp XX conceded two early corners as Alpha United pressed home the advantage and even before some spectators had settled in their seats, Abrams who had showed tremendous form throughout the tournament, received a pass at the edge of the box, dribbled one defender before beating goalkeeper Michael Marks with a well-timed shot.
The Georgetown side silenced the thousands of Linden supporters as they adapted well to the extremely tough conditions and carried out several attacks in Topp XX’s half, but the Linden side’s defenders were equal to the task.
Experienced striker Collie Hercules came close to scoring midway in the first half, but his header went wide of the mark and shortly after, Topp XX’s captain Koyode McKinnon, received a perfect squad pass from Hercules but he lost his footing and kicked the ball wide of the far post.
Marlon Benjamin then got into the act but his shot was saved by Alpha United goalkeeper Seon Johnson who was remarkable in goal, not conceding a goal in the entire tournament.
In the latter part of the first half Abrams’s shot struck the upright and was eventually saved by Marks who was then forced to come off his line to save a shot from Quincy Madramootoo and the score remained unchanged at the end of half time.
Topp XX tried desperately to score the equalizer as Hercules, McKinnon, Shevone Seaforth and Marlon Benjamin all tried but their efforts were in vain.
Midway though the second session, Alpha United went into defensive mode with even some of their strikers returning to defensive positions as they stoutly defended the solitary goal.
When the final whistle of referee Stanley Lancaster sounded, celebrations started in Alpha’s camp, and it was a celebration worth savouring after they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) just weeks ago in the Namilco football festival.
Alpha United’s coach Wayne Dover said the win was sweet revenge for his side and he thanked the technical staff for their role in the victory. “The team worked extremely hard all season and this victory is sweet revenge. The victory is also historic for me because I was part of the winning Beacon team in 1995 and now I am coach of the victorious Alpha United Team,” Dover remarked.
Both Abrams and Johnson the architects of the Alpha team’s victory expressed delight at the team’s success.
Some disgruntled fans expressed disappointment at the high cost of admission and being unable to witness the third place play off.
However, officials of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation did indicate that the management of the MSC ground was concerned about playing two matches on the ground in its present state and they allowed only the final to be played.
It was also disclosed that when a date is set for the third place playoff fans will be admitted free. The presentation of prizes will also take place at a later date.
Alpha United for the victory carted off $750,000 while Topp XX secured $350,000.
The third placed team will receive $250,000 while fourth place will take home $150,000.
