A moment of individual brilliance from Delon John propelled Riddim Squad to their inaugural national title, downing Western Tigers 2-1 in the grand finale of the 5th Annual GFA/Banks Beer Knockout Cup on Friday.
With the score locked 1-1 in the dying minutes of the game at the Providence National Stadium, the tall forward made his presence felt moments upon entering the fray.
Racing onto a through pass within the left-side of the box, John, upon cutting back on his right leg, curled his strike into the right-hand corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance and sending the large partisan crowd into uproar with firecrackers and fireworks the staple of the celebration.
Dogged defending, alongside clock management, ensured Mocha unit’s lead remained intact and the sounding of the referee’s whistle sealed a long awaited championship for Riddim Squad.
Riddim Squad walked away with two million dollars and the championship trophy while the West Ruimveldt side collected one million dollars and the corresponding accolade.
In the individual presentation, Riddim Squad’s Sceyon Hope was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP). The winning team also collected the Best Goalkeeper trophy which was awarded to Ron Liverpool.
Randolph Wagner of Western Tigers copped the Highest Goal Scorer accolade with seven conversions.
Following the ceremonial kickoff by Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Simona Broomes, Western Tigers recorded the first attempt at goal in the sixth minute but the Darren Benjamin left-footed shot from inside the left of the box, was parried for a corner by Liverpool.
The resulting corner kick from Dwayne Ali almost paid dividends for the Georgetown unit but Liverpool parried the danger onto the crossbar after misreading the flight of the ball.
Wagner then came close to breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute, skipping past his marker while cutting in from the left side before unleashing a powerful right-footed effort which flew wide of the left corner.
The chances continued to present themselves for the Georgetown side as Wagner was denied in the 26th minute from inside the six-yard area by the advancing Liverpool, who smothered the danger after the latter’s control failed him following a pass from his cousin Jamal Pedro.
It was only until two minutes into the second period that Riddim Squad fashioned a shot on target, Teon Jones striking his right-footed effort towards the lower left corner from inside the centre of the penalty box.
Jones’s effort proved to be a warning shot as Amos Ramsay gave Riddim Squad the unlikely lead in the 49th minute, racing onto a pass within the left of the box, before slotting past custodian Romel Legall into the lower right hand corner to send the crowd into a frenzy.
Despite surrendering the lead, Western Tigers should have equalised immediately as Wagner, upon racing onto a through pass within the centre of the box, hesitated for a moment only to strike his right-footed effort into the path of the onrushing Liverpool.
Wagner continued to be a threat towards Riddim Squad’s aspirations and came close once more in the 69th minute, turning and striking a right-footed effort from 25 yards out in the centre narrowly wide of the lower left corner.
The persistence of the forward was eventually rewarded in the 72nd minute as he was hacked down from behind, after racing into the left of the box.
Tasked with the responsibility of the spot-kick, Wagner calmly converted with the right boot into the left hand corner, giving the Western Tigers fans belief and a reason to celebrate.
Nevertheless, it was the Riddim Squad’s fans that would be celebrating at the end of the evening as the subsequent introduction of John proved to be the catalyst for their triumph, the forward netting in sublime fashion to seal the outcome.
Prior to the commencement of the matchup, the teams were also greeted by GFF President Wayne Forde, Director of Sports Christopher Jones, Banks DIH executives Brian Choo-Hen, Carlton Joao and Mortimer Stewart and GFA executives including President Clifton Hicken.
At the half-time interval, FIFA referees Sherwin Moore, Sherwin Johnson, Trevor Porter, Venton Mars and Lenval Peart were presented with their badges by Minister of State Joseph Harmon and Hicken.
In the third place playoff, New Amsterdam United downed Santos 4-2. Jamal Butts netted a brace in the 52nd and 78th minutes while George Hinckson and Travis Williams scored in the ninth and 28th minutes respectively.
Dwayne McLennon scored for the losers in the 84th and 87th minutes. For their efforts, the Berbicians walked away with $500,000 and the third place accolade with Santos settling for $250,000 and the corresponding trophy.
