A last gasp goal from Delroy Fraser relegated league leader Pele to their first loss in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League, losing to the Guyana Defence Force 2-1 on Saturday at the Camp Ayanganna ground.
With the scores locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time, Fraser snatched the dramatic winner for the home side in the dying seconds, lobbing the advancing ‘keeper from within the centre of the box, after racing onto a perfectly placed Gavin Wilson through pass, sending the large crowd into a frenzy.
With the win, GDF moved to eight points leapfrogging Fruta Conquerors who were in the fourth position. Despite the loss, Pele remain in the top spot with 14 points.
The first period started brightly for the visitor as Travis Grant almost broke the deadlock in the second minute, heading his effort just over the crossbar from within the centre of the six yard box after collecting flicked on pass following a left sided cross.
The deadlock was eventually broken six minutes later as Gregory `Jackie’ Richardson netted an individual leading sixth goal of the event, converting a penalty strike into the lower right hand corner following a hand-ball infraction.
Pele almost doubled their advantage in the 16th minute as Omallo Williams directed his header onto the crossbar after collecting a left sided cross within the centre of the box.
Under pressure for majority of the opening exchanges, the hosts snatched the equaliser in the 20th minute as Eusi Phillips clinically converted a penalty kick effort into the lower left hand corner, following a rash challenge within the right side of the box.
The visitors almost retook the lead in the 36th minute but Richardson was denied from within the right side of the box by the diving custodian.
The second period started brightly for the home side who thought they had took the lead in the 48th minute with a left sided finish into the back of the net, only for the assistant referee to raise his flag for offside.
Richardson thought he had restored Pele’s lead in the 67th minute, only to see his powerful strike from 23 yards out in the centre of the box, tipped around the crossbar by the shot-stopper.
Mark Jhalu wasted a great chance to give the home side the lead in the 84th minute as he timely struck his effort straight at the opposing keeper after receiving the ball within the centre of the box.
Like Jhalu before him, Richardson was then guilty of wasting an opportunity to break the gridlock in the 88th minute, firing his right footed effort straight at the keeper from within the left side of the box after cutting across the body of his marker.
With the fixture looking likely to end in a stalemate, Fraser settled the outcome in sublime manner following an assist from substitute forward Wilson. The opening matchup of the night witnessed Buxton United downing the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 2-1.
Action in the event will then continue today with another doubleheader slated to be held at the same venue with a doubleheader. In the opening fixture at 18:00hrs, Fruta Conquerors will oppose Monedderlust while GDF will tackle Buxton United from 20:30hrs.
Winner of the round will pocket $4,000,000 while the second, third and fourth place teams will collect $2,000,000, $1,000,000 and $500,000 respectively. Similarly, the point’s leader prior to the knockout stage in the League Genesis round will pocket an additional $1,000,000.
Current Points Standings
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts
Pele 7 4 1 2 14 8 +6 14
Alpha United 7 3 0 4 10 4 +6 13
Guyana Defence Force 7 3 2 2 12 9 +2 11
Slingerz 7 3 1 3 7 4 +3 9
Fruta Conquerors 7 2 3 2 8 10 -2 8
Monedderlust 7 2 4 1 7 13 -6 7
Buxton United 7 2 5 0 4 10 -6 6
GFC 7 1 4 2 6 10 -4 5
