Camp Street All-Stars were the story of the night, as the ‘Lot 12 unit’ crushed Railway Kitty 3-1 when the 7th edition of the Georgetown Zone of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Football Championship started on Monday.
A massive crowd witnessed the unlikely event, with the second year entrants running riot, as goals were snatched on either side of half time at the National Cultural Centre Tarmac.
Wendell Austin gave the inmates the lead on the stroke of halftime of the 30 minute affair, slotting home unchallenged into the empty net from the left side.
The raucous crowd which was clearly on the side of the Camp Street All-Stars was given another reason to celebrate, as Dwayne Christopher doubled their lead two minutes after the resumption, slotting a strike from the left side into the right corner.
Railway Kitty eventually pulled one back in the 25th minute, much to the displeasure of the viewership, as Shane Cooper turned with his back to the goal, away from the onrushing final defender, before slotting home unchallenged.
Nonetheless, any hope of a Railway Kitty comeback was extinguished in the 25th minute, as Steve Bacchus fired the final shot, slotting home from the left side following a two on one situation with the last defender.
Meanwhile, it was business as usual for the high profile teams as defending champ Sparta Boss, Channel-9 Warriors, Leopold Street, Queen Street Tigerbay, and Festival City Warriors sealed their berths to the group stage.
Sparta Boss overcame a determined Hardina Street outfit 3-1 on penalty kicks, after normal time ended 1-1. Jermin Scott scored for Hardina Street in the 21st minute, while Sheldon Shepherd equalised one minute onward for the holders.
2012 champion Leopold Street downed South Ruimveldt 2-0. Sheldon Profit and Orandel Williams scored in the seventh and 14th minute respectively.
Similarly, 2013 winner Queen Street Tigerbay juiced Fruit Stand by a 2-0 scoreline.
Deon Alfred bagged a double in the fourth and sixth minute.
2015 finalist Channel-9 Warriors edged Shopping Plaza 2-1. Kevin Barrow and Joshua Fiffee netted in the second and 26th minute respectively, while Stephen Dolphin scored in the sixth minute for Shopping Plaza.
2014 finalist Festival City Warriors sent an ominous warning to the field, crushing Norton Street Ballers 5-2.
Eon Alleyne recorded a double in the rout, inclusive of the fastest goal of the event in 16 seconds. His second conversion occurred in the fifth minute. Cecil Williams, Dwayne Lawrence and Daniel Favourite also scored for Festival City in the 15th, 21st and 24th minute, respectively. On target in the loss were Joshua Parvatan and Nigel Decamp in the 20th and 30th minute, respectively.
Holmes Street Tigerbay, the 2008 titlist was the major casualty of the night, succumbing 2-1 to Bent Street. Anthony Abrams and Stellon David scored for the winners in the 23rd and 28th minute, respectively, while Akeem Saul found the back of the net in the fourth minute for Holmes Street.
Meanwhile, Tucville needled Island All-Stars-A 1-0 via Delon Williams’ 24th minute effort.
Winner of the event will walk away with $500,000 and the championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth runners-up will pocket $200,000, $100,000 and $75,000, respectively, as well as the corresponding trophy.
The co-sponsor of the tournament is Colours Boutique who supplied complete team uniforms to all the participants.
The event is slated to resume tomorrow at the Demerara Park Parking Lot, opposite Thirst Park.
