By Kizan Brumell
Pele battled their way into the history books after enduring a tough match up against the in-form Fruta Conquerors Sunday night to emerge victorious in the inaugural Western Tigers Super Eight Knockout Competition at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground.
They outdid Conquerors in the encounter that was extended to extra time and ended 2 – 1 to claim the $500,000 first prize.
Earlier in the night the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) trounced hosts BK International Western Tigers 3 – 0 in the third place showdown.
Conquerors received the $200,000 runner up prize while GDF won $100,000 for placing third and Tigers, $50,000 for fourth.
In the Conquerors/Pele showdown, Conquerors was pushed on the back football half way through the first half after playing good matching football.
Pele was soon 1-0 up after being gifted with a penalty kick after a Conquerors player was blown for a foul tackle in the 18-yard box.
Konata Manning successfully converted the opportunity to put Pele ahead in the 25th minute; a lead which they held until the halftime whistle.
When the second half resumed the match continued with both teams trading shots until Travis Hackett equalised in the 78th minute to send the game into extra time.
Two minutes into the first half of extra time the belligerent Marvin Joseph regained the lead for Pele who defended the lead to the end of the battle against a desperate Fruta Conquerors side who were frantically searching for an equalizer.
In the GDF/Tigers third place showdown GDF stormed into the lead with a ninth minute goal by Delroy Dean who completed his brace in the 25th minute with another goal, effectively doubling the lead.
Marlon Benjamin extended GDF’s lead with a 42nd-minute goal to worsen the agony for the hosts. The second half was a quite dull once since neither team scored even though Tigers’ attack was not fierce enough to get through the GDF defence.
