In what can be described as a huge upset, tourney hosts Sparta Boss were sent packing from the Sparta Boss 32-team First Anniversary Football tourney after losing to Pike Street 2-1 via penalty kicks on Wednesday at the Sparta Boss Tarmac in East La Penitence.
With a goal-less normal time, penalty kicks were then required to settle the outcome. Asked to take first strike from the distance, Pike Street got off to the worst possible start when they missed from the distance.
However, the home side failed to capitalise on the opportunity when Dennis Edwards fired their first shot into the right post. It was then 1-1 in the second round of kicks as both teams netted from the distance.
Pressure was then on the hosts when Pike Street scored in their final strike from the mark. Needing a conversion to force the match into sudden death kicks, Devon Millington fired his canon shot into the uprights, sealing their unlikely exit from the event.
Also registering a penalty shoot-out win was Back Circle who defeated Castello Housing Scheme 2-1 after normal time finished 1-1. Back Circle took the initial lead in the eighth minute with a finish into the empty net after collecting a right-sided pass following a two-on-one situation.
However, Castello pushed the fixture into penalty kicks levelling the score in the 11th minute through a Sherman Anthony conversion through the legs of the advancing keeper and into the middle of the net, after receiving a right-sided pass within the centre of the field.
In the third fixture, North East La Penitence overcame Sophia by a 2-1 score line. Shaquille Brown netted the opener for the winners in the fourth minute, cutting across the body of the final defender from the left side before finishing into the middle of the net.
Their lead would not last long as Joshua Kamal scored two minutes later, rounding final defender before finishing into the net from just outside the top of the box.
Nevertheless, North East La Penitence would net the go-ahead winner in the 13th minute through a Carl Tudor effort, slotting home into the empty net after collecting a right-sided pass from Brown following a pass combination that began in the centre of the field. Up Top Youths were also in the winners’ circle, brushing aside Unruly Kids 2-0. Anthony Charles netted the tourney’s fastest goal to date in 15 seconds, thumping his first time right-footed effort into the net after collecting a Jermin Junior pass on the right side of the field.
The result was then sealed in sublime fashion when Junior scored in the ninth minute, rifling a powerful right-footed volley into the left corner after racing onto a lobbed pass on the right wing.
In other results, Sparta Kids squeaked past Rasville Warriors by a 1-0 margin compliments of a Kevin Baptiste strike in the 10th minute, finishing down the centre from the right wing after skipping past the onrushing final defender.
Defending champs Future Stars got their campaign off to the perfect start, edging North Ruimveldt-B 1-0 in the event’s opener compliments of a Kareem Knights strike in the 15th minute.
The second match-up of the evening witnessed Alberttown defeating Bent Street 1-0. Kelsey Benjamin netted the winner in the 12th minute with a finish into the left side of the net, after collecting a right-sided pass from Calvin Shepherd.
In the fourth fixture, Leopold Street needled Chester’s Jewellery 1-0. Omallo Williams found the back of the net in the 15th minute, dribbling the final defender in a one-on-one situation before stabbing into the middle of the goal.
Winner of the tourney will pocket $400,000 and the championship trophy while the second placed unit will receive $200,000 and the runners-up accolade. The third place finisher will walk away with $100,000.
Action is set to continue today at the same venue with the second round of knockout fixtures. Teams expected to compete are Globe Yard, Festival City, Albouystown-A, Guyhoc Skulls, West Front Road-Gold is Money, Tigerbay-A, Kofi Warriors, Stevedore Housing Scheme, Plaisance, Charlotte Street, Broad Street Bullies, North Ruimveldt, Kofi Rebels and Fruit Stand.
Sponsors of the tournament are August Beverages, Sparta Boss and Rainbow Villas.
