In the battle of Berbice, Eastern giants New Amsterdam United defeated its western counterpart Monedderlust FC 5-3 on penalty kicks after normal and extra time finished 1-1 in their Stag Beer sponsored ECFA/BFA/EDFA Knockout Cup quarterfinal fixture on Thursday.
With the deadlock unable to be broken at the Buxton Community ground in the allotted time intervals, New Amsterdam would start the penalty shoot-out in a positive manner as captain Adrian Adams netted.
Monedderlust would then begin their shoot-out in the worst possible manner as Captain Travis Henry thumped his effort high, wide and handsomely over the crossbar, much to the disbelief of his team-mates and the large viewership.
The score line would then become 2-1 as both units netted in the second round of spot-kicks compliments of Leonard Adams (sibling) of New Amsterdam and Kevin Layne Jr. of Monedderlust FC.
New Amsterdam would maintain their one goal lead in the third round as Ray Reddock netted from the mark while Clifford Campbell scored for Monedderlust.
Both custodians would continue to fail in making an impact in the shoot-out as Dane Johnson netted for New Amsterdam and Ozose Halley scored for Monedderlust in the fourth round of kicks.
Only needing to convert in their fifth and final attempt to seal the win, Devon James would authoritatively send his side into the final four section, burying his effort into the right hand side of the goal.
With the win, New Amsterdam United will now lock horns with Grove Hi-Tech in the semi-final fixture following the latter’s 1-0 over home side Buxton United.
In the earlier moments of the cagey affair, Jamal Butts almost gave New Amsterdam the early lead in the 20th minute, curling his right footed effort from within the left side of the area just over the crossbar.
The diminutive Butts would be at it again two minutes onward, wasting a great opportunity from within the right side of the area as he lashed his effort high over woodwork with only the keeper in his path.
Monedderlust would then make New Amsterdam pay for their wasteful displays in the 24th minute as Leroy Halley netted compliments of a well-placed strike from the left side of the box into the right hand corner of the goal.
However, their lead would be brief as Adrian Adams scored from the penalty mark one minute later to the lower left corner after Butts made up for his earlier errors by forcing a rash challenge out of Henry within the left side of the area.
With the scores unchanged going into the second half, Monedderlust should have won the fixture in the 90th+3 minute of an almost chanceless period.
Receiving the ball just outside the right upright, the unchallenged forward Morde McDonald would inexplicably direct his effort wide of the right post when it was harder to miss the empty net.
New Amsterdam also suffered from abysmal finishing with Butts the culprit once more, lobbing his effort wide of the left side from within the centre of the area, following a one-on-one situation with the goalkeeper in the 95th minute of extra time.
Ozose Halley would continue the trend of failing to hit the mark while unchallenged in the 112th minute, placing his effort wide of the right corner from inside the centre of the penalty box, after pouncing on a loose ball following the final defender’s failed attempt at a clearance from a lobbed ball.
In the second matchup of the night, home side Buxton United disappointed their home support as they went down to Grove Hi-Tech by a 1-0 score line.
Shermon Doris netted the fixture’s only goal in the sixth minute compliments of a right footed penalty kick conversion to the lower left hand corner, after forward Domini Garnette was brought down within the area.
