With a mammoth 215 goals already recorded in the 24-match group stage round, the trend of heavy scoring is expected to continue in the knockout rounds when quarterfinal action in the inaugural GT Beer Futsal Championship commences tonight at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
The opening matchup of the night will pit the event’s leading offenses against each other when group-C winner and tourney dark-horse Sophia oppose Bent Street at 19:00hrs.
Offensively, Sophia is easily the event’s most dangerous attack with 26 conversions in their three group fixtures at an impressive average of 8.6 goals per game.
Shem Arthur leads a powerful offence featuring the likes of Dwayne Lowe, Desmond Cottam, Joshua Kamal and his sibling Sheik Kamal, Akeem Jaikissoon and new recruit Omallo Williams.
Ironically, despite their offensive prowess, Sophia is tied for the most goals conceded by a team entering the knockout round alongside their intended foe with 16 and will need to improve if they are to progress further in the event.
Similarly, Bent Street are no pushovers and will enter this phase of the contest confident with the joint second best offence of 20 goals recorded. They will be led by the likes of Daniel Wilson, Stellon David, Okeene Fraser and Colin Nelson.
In the second matchup at 19:45hrs, West Back Road will put the best defensive record of the tourney against arch-rivals and group-C runners-up West Front Road-Gold is Money.
Surprise winners of group-D, West Back Road’s tourney has been highlighted by solid defending, with only five goals conceded to date in their three fixtures compliments of the outstanding efforts by Phillip Rowley, Jarel Tyrell, Jamal Haynes and company.
With a solid backline and 12 goals netted on the offensive side, West Back Road will be confident of restricting their foes and sealing their place in the next round.
On the other hand, West Front Road will other intentions and will hope their Jekyll and Hyde mentality will not come to the forefront in this all important matchup as they have both impressed and struggled in the event.
Offensively, Gold is Money have recorded 19 conversions to date through their family ties of Hubert Pedro, Randolph Wagner, Michael Oie, Wendell Pedro and Michael Pedro.
On the defensive end, the lack of a quality defender has been their Achilles Heel which is evident by their 13 concessions, six of which came in their last fixture. They will need to remedy this problem if they are emerge the winner against their fierce rivals.
The third fixture wit then pit tournament favourites and group-B winner Sparta Boss against unexpected group-A runners up Kitty Weavers at 21:00hrs.
The star-studded East La Penitence unit comprising of the likes of Sheldon Shepherd, Travis Grant, Deon Alfred, Dennis Edwards and Carl Tudor has arguably been the most balanced side in the event.
Currently have scored 14 goals while only conceding a meager six goals and are expected to seal a berth in the next round by many of the pundits.
While they might not possess the numerical prowess and man-power of their foes, Kitty led by their veteran foursome of Terrence Lewis, Travis Martin, Nigel Denny and Omalli Nassy
will attempt to fashion a major upset when physicality’s commence.
The numbers though not inspiring, highlight a side that can score going forward with 11 goals netted. From a defensive standpoint, they have will to improve significantly if they are to claim the win, with 13 goals already scored against them.
In a fixture that could be easily considered a finale, group-A winners Festival City will lock horns with group-B runners-up Albouystown in the final matchup at 21:45hrs.
Outside of the group-B winners, Festival City has been the most impressive throughout the tournament. The likes of Daniel Favourite, Eon Alleyne, Dwayne Lawrence and Solomon Austin leads a formidable attacking unit that has netted 20 goals thus far.
Defensively they have been okay with 12 concessions to date, with their only real issue being their lack of depth. For the their challengers, Albouystown have been a revelation on the defensive end, with only six conversions against them.
Offensively, they have only netted nine times which is the lowest among all teams in the elimination round and will need a improved output from the likes of Shaka Jones, Devon Dooker, Denver Dennis and Lennox Cort if they are to secure a positive result.
Winner of the event will collect $500,000 and trophy while the second, third and fourth place finishers will collect $250,000, $125,000 and $75,000 and the correspondingly accolade.
Other sponsors of the event include the National Milling Company (NAMILCO) of Guyana and Trophy Stall.
