Victoria Kings and Grove Hi-Tech were sent packing from the Mayor’s Cup knockout football tourney, suffering upset defeats to Agricola Red Triangle and Golden Grove respectively on opening night at the Victoria ground on Friday.
The home side went down to Agricola Red Triangle by a 2-1 margin while Golden Grove squeaked past Grove Hi-Tech by a 1-0 score line. Due to the win, Agricola Red Triangle will now faceoff with Western Tigers in the next round while Golden Grove will tackle Riddim Squad.
The home crowd would be given a reason to cheer in the feature contest as Agricola feel behind compliments of a 37th minute penalty kick conversion by Calvin DeSouza.
Awarded the spot-kick following a reckless challenge by Marlon Clark within the left side of the box, DeSouza would place his right footed effort beyond the reach of the diving custodian into the lower left hand corner, igniting the modest crowd.
However, John Gordon would level the score line in the 60th minute for the visitors, finishing his shot down the middle of the goal with only the goalkeeper in his path, after racing onto an initial strike which came off the crossbar following a 24-yard free kick in the centre of the field.
Despite leveling the score, the East Bank of Demerara side would suffer an unfortunate setback eight minutes onward as Clark was sent off after picking up his second bookable offence for another clumsy challenge.
Nevertheless, the numerical handicap would only serve to inspire the East Bank of Demerara outfit as Gordon grabbed the go-ahead winner to seal his second half brace in the 83rd minute.
Lurking within the centre of the box in anticipation of a right sided corner kick, Gordon would pounce on a dropped catch by the Victoria Kings custodian, stabbing his attempt down the middle of the goal to spark wild celebrations among their supporters. In the opening match of the tourney, Randy Stoby sealed the unlikely win for Golden Grove in a cagey and unspectacular affair as he etched his name on the scorer’s sheet compliments of a fourth minute conversion.
Reduced to 60 minutes following a late start, Stoby, upon waiting within the 18-yard area would direct his effort into the back of the net after a flat cross within the box took a deflection and fell fortuitously into his path.
The action is set to continue today at the Georgetown Football Club ground with a doubleheader. In the opening match at 19:00hrs, Santos will faceoff with Mahaica Determinators while Ann’s Grove tackle Sunburst Camptown from 21:00hrs in the feature affair.
Winners of the event will receive $1,000,000 and the championship trophy while the runners-up will pocket $300,000 and the respective title. The third and fourth positioned teams will walk away with $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.
