The stage is set for the commencement of the semi-final round of the Fruta Conquerors organized NAMILCO Football Festival after the conclusion of the quarter-final round at the Tucville Playfield on Friday night.
In Wednesday’s semi-finals, Santos will meet Sunburst Camptown while Western Tigers will meet New Amsterdam United at the same venue.
On Friday, BK International Western Tigers thrashed the Georgetown Football Club 3 – 1 in the opening match while Santos upset the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) 2 – 1 in the feature encounter which went into extra time before the winner was determined.
Western Tigers and GFC contested a very tough first half with both teams trading shots at each other’s goal.
However, GFC scored first when Paul Daniels found himself unchallenged at the top of the 18-yard box and released a firm shot that beat the Western Tigers goal-keeper to his right.
On the stroke of half time, Western Tigers equalized through a Devon Millington strike to ease some nerves.
The second half resumed with Dwayne Alley taking the lead for Tigers with a goal in the 67th minute before Royon Thomas delivered the final blow in the 88th minute.
The army team was defeated in a tough encounter by Santos who played terrific all round football characterized by resolute defending and superb offence.
They kept GDF from scoring until the 71st minute when Stellon David got an opening and clinically put the ball away.
That one goal lead proved that it was not enough when Santos’ Damien Edwards equalised one minute before regulation time (89th) to send the game into extra time.
This was where Santos showed that they were the better side on the night as they went up 2 – 1 in the 15th minute of extra time, compliments of a Michael Pedro strike and they defended the lead for the remainder of the match to claim the victory.
