Soesdyke Primary through a Kevin Marshall spot kick in a nerve wracking penalty shootout won the inaugural Kashif and Shanghai Chico U13 football tournament 1-0 over heavy favourites Grove Primary at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground yesterday.
Played under clear skies and watched by a small gathering, the game began at a fast tempo with both teams trying to gain the upper hand in the early exchanges. Grove Primary, through their talismanic striker Randy Smalls, started to find their attacking fluency only to be found wanting in the final third. The game ebbed and flowed with both outfits making dangerous runs into the opposing territory only to be denied by staunch and sometimes desperate defending as half time quickly sounded.
The back and forth action continued in the second half, bringing the contrasting bases to their feet as they urged their youthful charges forward. Soesdyke began to find a foothold into the game through the talented Jermel Holder as they started to press forward. Opening up, both teams began to throw bodies forward in search of the all important winner, only to be denied by robust defending.
The final whistle came to end regulation time paving the way for the penalty shootout with the inspirational Holder breaking the stalemate as he converted his spot kick to send the Soesdyke faithful into wild celebrations and the Grove players and supporters into despondency. In the opening fixture, Company Road Primary overcame a dogged Uitvlugt Primary 1-0 compliments of an Anthony Rodney strike in the 24th minute to win fifth place while West Ruimveldt Primary earned the third spot as they defeated B.V. Primary 1-0 in a penalty shootout since neither team was able to score during regulation time.
