Mahaica Determinators upset Riddim Squad 5-4 on sudden death kicks following a 0-0 score line at the end of normal and extra time when action in the Georgetown Football Association (GFA)/Banks Beer Knockout Cup continued last night.
Hosted at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda, the opening period would see Mahaica creating their best opportunity in the 29th minute as an Azuma Roberts’ left-sided strike from within the left side of the penalty area, went narrowly wide of the left post.
Losing finalist in the 2012 edition of the event, Riddim Squad would fashion their best attempt on the woodwork in the 41st minute as a right sided Amos Ramsay left footed strike, flew just wide of sneaking into the lower left-hand corner.
The resumption of the second period would see the Mahaica side almost breaking the deadlock in the 54th minute, as Roberts fired his right- footed effort from inside the right side of the penalty area just wide of the right upright.
A constant threat to the Mahaica backline, A. Ramsay would be denied from adding his name to the scorer’s sheet in the 67th minute as his left- footed strike from the centre of the goal was cleared desperately off the line by defender Terry Caesar.
The Mocha-based side would be denied once again in the 83rd minute as Sheldon Gourick’s right-footed shot from the left side of the penalty area was tipped just around the left upright by the Mahaica custodian.
Marauding tirelessly back and forth on the respective flanks throughout the encounter, A. Ramsay would fashion the best chance of the extra time interval for Riddim Squad as he rounded his marker on the left side of the field, before powering his effort just over the crossbar from the left side of the box.
Forced to utilize the lottery that is the penalty shoot-out to determine a winner, a 4-4 score line would materialize.
The resulting round of sudden death kicks would eventually find a winner as Mahaica prevailed to seal the event’s first major upset.
In the opening game, the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), compliments of a Desford Williams hat trick in the 45th+2, 65th and 67th minutes hammered Botofago 6-1. Further strikes from Seon Prince, Jehu Brewley and Delwyn Fraser in the 11th, 29th and 34th minutes respectively sealed the win.
Netting for the losers in the 90th+3 minute was Yannick Simon from the penalty spot.
