On a night devoid of high scoring matches and highlighted by penalty shoot-outs, Sparta Boss clinched their inaugural semi-final spot, downing Albouystown-B 2-0 on Sunday at the Demerara Park Tarmac.
Witnessed by the largest spectatorship of any night, Devon Millington ignited the capacity crowd into jubilation as he found the back of the net in the second minute.
Receiving a misplaced pass from the final defender just outside the centre of the Albouystown penalty area, the mercurial forward lashed his right-footed effort through the legs of the final defender into the centre of the goal.
Another misplaced pass by the final defender would lead to the fixture being over before it began as Sheldon Shepherd netted three minutes later in a similar fashion.
Receiving a left-sided pass from Millington, the versatile Shepherd would strike his effort through the legs of the final defender down the centre of the goal from just outside the centre of the area.
Due to the win, the East Ruimveldt-based side will face off with North Ruimveldt in the semi-final round after the latter edged Globe Yard 1-0 on penalty kicks following a 0-0 score at the end of normal and extra time.
Needing to score to keep his side’s chances alive of progressing after North Ruimveldt scored their third and final attempt from the distance, Sherwin Grimes would place his effort just wide of the mark, sealing his side’s exit from the event.
In the second matchup of the night, Festival City Warriors overcame Cross Street 2-1 on penalty kicks after regulation and extra time ended nil-all. The first round of spot-kicks saw the score remain at 0-0 as both sides missed from the distance.
The second round would also fail to separate the two units as both sides netted from the distance in the form of Ronaldo Dover from Cross Street and Eon Alleyne of Festival City Warriors. Utility player Solomon Austin would then push Festival City Warriors into the lead as he netted their third and final attempt clinically down the middle of the woodwork. Needing to score to push the fixture into the sudden death realm, Mark Jhalu would fire his right-footed attempt wide of the left corner, sparking raucous celebrations from the winner’s bench and surrounding spectators.
In the opening fixture of the night, Leopold Street squeaked past West Front Road-Gold is Money 4-3 on sudden death kicks, following a 0-0 score at the conclusion of the normal and extra time intervals.
Previous tournament most valuable player Omallo Williams sent the former champions into the final four section with a left-footed conversion after Colin Nelson had initially fired wide of the mark for West Front Road.
By virtue of qualifying for the semi-final stage, the respective four teams earned automatic berths as Georgetown’s representatives in the impending National Tournament next year. The action is slated to continue today at the National Cultural Centre tarmac with the semi-final round.
