Pele Football Club scored a narrow 2-1 win over Sunburst Camptown to win the inaugural Banks Premium Beer Football Cup when the tournament climaxed Sunday evening in front of a large crowd at the Tucville Playfield.
Alpha United trounced Santos 4-1 to secure third place in a one-sided affair.
Pele striker Troy Kellman with two excellent goals in each half sent his team’s fans into a frenzy in a fast-paced and entertaining encounter.
Camptown had a clear goal-scoring opportunity as early as the 10th minute but failed to capitalize after a cautious start by both teams.
Kellman sent Pele into the lead in the 28th minute when he dribbled his marker and sent a powerful right foot shot past Camptown’s goalkeeper Morris Prince from the edge of the box.
Camptown counterattacked immediately when play restarted and were almost successful when a shot by Troy Prescod struck the cross bar and appeared as if it had bounced on the line. The Camptown players appealed for a goal but their pleas were denied by referee Otis James who ruled that the ball did not cross the line.
Camptown, however, secured the equalizer from the penalty spot almost on the stroke of half time when Pele’s Travis Grant deliberately handled the ball in the penalty area. He received a yellow card from the referee who also awarded a spot kick to Camptown.
With the score tied 1-1 an intriguing second half was anticipated and fans were not denied the high-paced action.
Pele midfield players Konata Mannings and Dirk Archer injected valuable support to the strike line and they once again went on the offensive and it was in the 56th minute that the match winning goal came in similar fashion to the first.
Kellman manoeuvred his way down the right flank, slipped behind the Camptown defence and his first time shot beat Prince once again.
Camptown tried in vain to get back into the game and even substituted goalkeeper Prince for Ron Liverpool but Pele’s defence held strong until the end and at the final whistle celebrations erupted.
Alpha United, who bowed out to Pele in the semi-final bounced back to beat Santos 4-1 for third place.
National striker Anthony “Awo” Abrams netted a double while one goal each was scored by Quincy Madramootoo and Kester Alleyne.
Madramootoo opened the account for Alpha in the 15th minute and then Abrams scored his first goal to give their team a 2-0 lead at half time.
Alleyne found the back of the net three minutes into the second half before Abrams return to score in the 89th.
Lennox Fraser scored Santos’ consolation goal in the 61st minute.
Before the start of the final, the two teams were met by officials of beverage giants Banks DIH, sponsors of the tournament under the Premium Beer Brand.
They included Premium Beer Brand Manager Brian Choo-Hen, Outdoor Event manager Mortimer Stewart, and Communications Manager Troy Peters.
Pele carted off the $250,000 first prize with Camptown securing $125,000 for second place, Alpha United claimed the third place prize of $75,000 with Santos taking home $50,000.
The presentation of prizes will be made at a later date, Secretary of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Marlan Cole told Stabroek Sport.
The 16-team knockout tournament attracted seven premier teams and nine division one clubs affiliates of the GFA.
