Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) were controversially crowned the Guyana Sports Develop-ment Foundation (GSDF) Pepsi/Scotiabank national u-15 champions after defeating Wismar/ Christianburg 5-4 on sudden death kicks after regulation time ended 0-0 Saturday.
The ensuing controversy erupted at the Ministry of Education ground after the Linden side defeated the Berbice outfit 5-4 on sudden death kicks, after the initial penalty shoot-out finished 4-4.
The genesis of the issue occurred when the officials deemed that both sides had used an earlier penalty taker to kick in the sudden death round and mandated that both sides retake their spot-kicks, much to the protests of the celebrating Linden following.
This unfortunate occurrence worked in the favour of the Berbice side as they went on to reverse the outcome and clinch the title.
Earlier, Troy Monroe almost opened the scoring for the Berbicians in the 27th minute but his right footed attempt from the centre of the penalty area, was denied by the opposing custodian, after being in a one-on-one situation.
Wismar/Christianburg almost broke the stalemate in the 41st minute through a Ronell DePuton strike which was parried to safety by the onrushing custodian Jerold Foort, within the left side of the penalty area.
Omar Brewley would then fire his right footed strike over the cross from within the six-yard area in the 53rd minute after latching onto a right sided cross, as the Linden side began to get the better of the exchanges.
DePuton would be denied once more in the 59th minute as his right footed effort was smartly saved by the Fort low to his right. On the back foot for most of the second period, BEI’s Mark Porter almost stole the lead for his unit in the 62nd minute but his right footed effort from the centre the penalty area, was denied by the Linden shot-stopper.
The Linden unit would continue to be frustrated by the efforts of Foort between the uprights as he denied a powerful 26 yard right footed Hubert Adams freekick in the 67th minute.
With a winner unable to be realised during the end of regulation time, penalty kicks were then required to find a victor. BEI would begin the resulting shoot-out in the worst possible manner as they missed their strike from the mark, allowing the Linden unit to take a 1-0 lead as they scored the opening kick from the mark.
It then became 3-2 as both sides scored their next two attempts from the distance. Their efficiency from the mark would continue as they both scored their fourth attempt.
Simply needing a conversion to win, the Linden side would hand the Berbicians a lifeline as they missed their fifth attempt from the mark. BEI would capitalise Wismar/Christiansburg’s failure as they netted to force the matchup into sudden death kicks, where they eventually prevailed.
With the win, BEI walked away with the championship trophy and the respective medals. Wismar/Christianburg for the efforts, collected the second place accolade and matching medals. In the individual awards section, BEI custodian Foort was adjudged the most valuable player of the final.
On the distaff side, East Ruimveldt Secondary walked away with the u-17 title, overcoming Linden unit Wisburg Secondary 3-0 on penalty kicks after normal time concluded with the scores locked at
0-0.
