The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) made a terrific start to their title defense when they vanquished Monnedderlust in the first knockout round of the annual Mayor’s Cup Knockout Football Tournament at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) Ground Sunday night.
Monnederlust plunged to a humiliating 0-6 defeat at the feet of the defending champions in the opening match of the double header while Fruta Conquerors needled New Amsterdan (NA) United in the feature.
GDF will now face Fruta Conquerors in the quarterfinal round. The competition continues on Friday at the same venue when last year’s runners-up Santos, faces Victoria Kings in the opening match up of the double header. The second match will feature Alpha United and BV Triumph in the 8pm showdown.
On Sunday, GDF moved one step closer to the one-million dollar top prize and completion of their title defense with a steamrolling performance that exposed and cruelly exploited Monnederlust weaknesses.
GDF drew first blood as early at the ninth minute when Desford Williams found the back of the net. That lead lasted for sometime before the army’s Kevin Lewis put the Berbice opposition down by two in the 35th minute.
After the half time break, GDF took some time getting back their flow but the lead tripled with a Delwin Fraser 55th minute strike before Huberto Pedro scored a 63rd minute goal to put the eventual victors ahead by four. Delroy Dean and Telston McKinnon put the issue way beyond doubt when they were successful in the 69th and 85th minute respectively.
Later in the night Conquerors and NA contested a rather boring showdown that saw neither team being able to score during the 90 minutes of play which drove the match up into extra time.
However, Conquerors’ Keith Adams scored in the tenth minute of the first half of extra time; a goal which the opposition had no answer for.
