The quarterfinal matchups in the inaugural Guyana Beverage Company Busta football tourney were solidified as Sparta Boss, Sophia, Kitty Weavers and Bent Street secured round-of-16 wins on Sunday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.
In front of a sizeable crowd, Bent Street overcame a two-goal, first-half deficit to defeat West Back Road 3-2. Jarel Tyrell gave West Back Road the lead in the eighth minute with a first time right side shot into the lower left corner after racing onto a pass from the centre of the park.
Their lead would then be doubled as Odel Young scored in the dying seconds of the first-half in the 15th minute, lashing his effort into the lower left corner from the right side of the field.
Ronson Williams would then kick start the come-from-behind win in the 25th minute, heading his effort down the centre of the goal after leaping above several defenders and the opposing keeper just inside the area to latch onto the ball.
Bent Street would then level the score in dramatic fashion one minute later as Anthony Abrams netted, slotting his effort into the lower left corner after the opposing custodian parried a right side shot into his path within the box.
West Back Road should have retaken the lead in the 28th minute as a left side pass found the unmarked Jamal Haynes within the right side of the box, but Haynes inexplicably fired his effort wide of the empty net, much to the disbelief of his team-mates.
Shevane Seaforth almost completed the come-from-behind victory for Bent Street in the final minute of normal time as his power effort from the centre of the field, crashed into the left upright.
Nonetheless, Bent Street would seal the win in the 33rd minute as Abrams buried his right footed dagger into the lower right corner, after skipping past his marker within the centre of the field.
The feature showdown of the night witnessed Sparta Boss defeating Globe Yard 2-1. Sheldon Shepherd broke the deadlock for the East La Penitence unit in the 11th minute, thumping his first time strike into the roof of the net, after racing onto a right sided cross within the box.
Despite their lead, Sparta Boss would incur a setback as Shepherd was shown a red card in the 20th minute for head-butting his opponent from behind.
The exit would Shepherd seemed to rattle the East La Penitence unit and they eventually concede the equaliser as Josiah Charles netted four minutes later, stabbing home into the lower right corner after pouncing on a defensive miscommunication within the backline.
Sparta Boss almost retook the lead in the 28th minute as Gregory Richardson was denied by custodian Nkosi White within the centre of the area following a one-on-one situation.
Nevertheless, Travis Grant would net the eventual winner for Sparta Boss as he directed his effort into the lower left corner, after an attempted right sided shot from Richardson found him unmarked within the right side of the box.
Sophia sealed their berth to the next stage in the second matchup, edging North Ruimveldt 2-1. Dwayne Lowe opened the scoring in the 13th minute, sliding into the left side of the box to stab the ball into the lower left corner following a left sided cross.
North Ruimveldt would then level the score in the 20th minute as Nickosie Barker scored, placing his attempt into the lower right hand corner from within the left side of the penalty area.
However Sophia would retake the lead as Lowe found the go-ahead winner five minutes later, intercepting a pass on the left side of the field before skipping past the onrushing keeper and finishing into the left corner.
In the opening matchup of the night, Kitty Weavers sent Broad Street packing as they won 1-0. Sherwin Vincent netted in the 14th minute, stabbing his effort down the centre of the goal after stealing the ball from the final defender.
The quarterfinal round will now commence today at the same venue. In the opening matchup at 20:45hrs, Queen Street Tiger Bay will tackle Bent Street while Kitty Weavers will oppose Festival City from 21:30hrs in the second fixture of the section.
In the final two fixtures of the night, West Front Road-Gold is Money will oppose Cross Street from 22:15hrs while Sparta Boss will lock horns with Sophia in the feature contest at 23:00hrs.
Victors of the tourney will receive the championship trophy and $600,000. Meanwhile the second, third and fourth placed sides will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the respective accolade.
The most disciplined team will receive $25,000. On the individual side, the most valuable player (MVP) will receive $50,000 while the highest goal scorer will pocket a gold chain.
Prior to the conclusion of the evening’s fixtures, the respective teams received their group stage incentives. Winners of each group received $25,000 while the second, third and fourth finishers within the group collected $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.