Defending champions Bakewell Topp XX and Milerock will meet for the second time in the final of the Linden Invitational football tournament tonight at the Mackenzie Sports Club ground (MSC) after emerging victors from two heated semi-finals Friday evening.
With the $150,000 first prize on the line, spectators can expect nothing short of an exhilarating final based on the two team’s performances on the road to glory.
Topp XX was able to overcome Winners Connection 2-0 while Milerock edged past Amelia’s Ward United 1-0 on sudden death kicks.
In the Amelia’s Ward/Milerock encounter, fans at the MSC venue were treated to nonstop pulsating football.
Many deemed the match the best ever played at the venue in recent times.
Milerock was able to get ahead in the 49th minute through a well-timed and placed header from Steve Brewley.
Amelia’s Ward United, who started the game without captain and play maker, former national player Travis Watterton, really got into the game when he and Odinga Green were substituted late in the second half.
Though Watterton was seen as the man to watch on the Amelia’s Ward United side, Green surprised all by becoming the energizer bunny behind his team’s offence and defence.
The forward did it all; made all the plays, made all the stops and would add his lasting mark on the game when he used his dribbling skills to evade the Milerock defence and place the ball well out of the reach of the Milerock custodian Michael Rose.
However, the two sides played to the end of regulation and extra time with the scores deadlocked 1-1.
In the penalty shoot-out all the players converted from the mark, sending the game into sudden death.
It was here where Green moved from ‘hero’ to ‘zero.’
Green took to the penalty spot with his side trailing by one goal and needing to score to level the game at six goals each but his shot was well saved by Rose and it was alls well that ends well as the saying goes for Milerock.
Meanwhile, the Topp XX and Winners Connection clash provided just as much excitement even though the game did not go to penalty kicks.
After playing to a 0-0 scoreline at the end of 90 minutes the two sides went into extra time.
The youthful-looking Topp XX side certainly showed their merit by holding their composure and were rewarded through a beautifully taken free kick from junior national player Michael Crandon some 40 yards out from goal.
Michael Wills then placed the icing on the cake with his goal as the Bakewell sponsored side tries to claim yet another title.
It will not be an easy task since Milerock are aiming to exact revenge for their defeat last year.
There will be no third place play-off but Topp Class of Linden will come up against GT-All-Stars and the under-19 players from the East and West bank of the Demerara river will go head-to-head in the two supporting games.
The tournament is being sponsored by the Netrockers and Amelia’s Ward United team with additional funding from the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company (GT&T) under their Cellink plus tag.
