A first half four goal blitz propelled Victoria Kings in the semi-final round of the GTT/Limacol Football Championship, downing New Amsterdam United 4-2 in their eliminator matchup on Sunday at the Victoria Community ground.
Veteran hitman Winston Pompey bagged a first half brace in the 5th and 44th minutes while Aubrey Gibson and Alden Lawrence supported with strikes in the 17th and 19th minutes correspondingly.
For the Berbicians, Adrian Adams recorded a double on either side of half time in the 22nd and 80th minutes. Due to the win, Victoria Kings will now lock horns with Linden unit Topp XX in a battle for a final’s berth on Friday at the same venue.
Witnessed by a large and vocal crowd, the hosts romped into the early lead compliments of a clinical Pompey header into the left hand corner, after latching onto a right sided cross within the left of the six yard box.
The flood-gates were simply opened following Pompey’s as Gibson netted a right sided free kick from 26 yards out which settled into the right hand corner of the net.
Stunned by their quick concessions, the visitors pulled one back as Adams lashed his effort into the left corner, after the final defender mistakenly tried to control a shot from outside the area, only to lose possession of the ball which into the path of the forward within the six yard area.
However, that proved only to be a brief respite for the Berbicians as Lawrence made it 3-1, volleying a left footed effort into the lower right corner from within the six yard box, after pouncing on a loose ball following a left sided cross into the area.
Pompey then completed the first half blitz one minute before the end of the period, placing his effort into the lower right corner, after collecting a left sided pass unchallenged within the centre of the box.
With the matchup basically settled going into the second stanza, the Berbicians found a consolation goal 10 minutes before the end of the fixture as Adams netted from the penalty mark with a right footed attempt into the lower right hand corner.
In the opening fixture, Milerock dismantled Golden Grove by a 5-0 margin. Denzil Fordyce led the way with brace in the first half compliments of strikes in the 17th and 20th minutes while Clarence Huggins supported with a double in the third and 79th minutes.
Sealing the win in the 74th minute was Jermaine Grandison. With the win, Milerock will now lock horns with fellow Linden unit Winners Connection in the semi-final round.
Topp XX and Winners Connection earned automatic berths to the semi-final stage after winning group-B and group-A respectively.
Winner of the event will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy while the second place side will pocket $250,000 and the respective accolade. The third place side will receive $125,000 and a trophy while the fourth positioned unit will collect $75,000 and the respective accolade.
The other important sponsors of the championship include the National Sports Commission and Sterling Products.
