By Kizan Brumell
A Jolyon Harry double was the back bone of the Fruta Conquerors victory over Riddim Squad on the opening night of the inaugural BK International Western Tigers Super Eight Knockout Competition at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground on Sunday night.
The victory gained them a spot in the semi-final where they will face the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) who also advanced after defeating Sunburst Camptown.
GDF edged Camptown 4 – 2 on penalty kicks after the two sides ended in a 2 – 2 deadlock at the end of full time.
In the Conquerors/Riddim Squad showdown, Harry drew first blood in the 18th minute but the Riddim Squad team protested the goal by saying it got into the back of the net from the side. But the referee in charge conferred with his assistant and verified that it went through the uprights.
Riddim Squad pulled one back in the 28th minute compliments of Amos Ramsay only for Conquerors to strike again.
Vernon Mills executed a text book finish by neatly placing the ball over the head of the advancing custodian in the 29th minute.
The second half resumed with Conquerors ahead by one and Harry duly completed his brace in the 46th minute. That goal allowed his team to play with a bit more comfort even as the Riddim Squad team put forth their futile efforts to reduce the deficit.
When GDF and Camptown clashed the army team went ahead in the 13th minute when Hubert Pedro scored after breaking down the Camptown defense with a tactical one-two play put together with Warren Gilkes.
The two teams continued trading shots and having some close calls but the match remained with Camptown down at the half time whistle. The match continued with the teams at each other’s necks for a goal until Camptown was awarded a penalty kick.
Rishawn Sandiford successfully converted the kick in the 83rd minute to level the match and send it into extra-time.
Camptown’s Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington scored in the third minute of the second half of extra time to give his team the lead then Shawn Arthur equalized two minutes later which caused the game to go to a penalty shootout to be decided.
Codrington, Troy Prescod and Sherwin Cadogan missed from the spot for Sunburst Camptown, while Eusi ‘Boneyman’ Peters was the lone casualty for GDF, who came out on top in the end.
