The National Cultural Centre tarmac will be the setting for a heavyweight clash and an unlikely meeting when holders Sparta Boss battles Back Circle and Broad Street tackles Tucville today in the semi-final of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Championship
Although both matches are expected to be thrilling, the second semi-final at 21:00hrs between Sparta Boss and 2011 champion Back Circle is expected to be another classic in their budding rivalry.
The previous meeting of the heavyweights ended positively for Back Circle who won 2-1 in the group round of last year’s tournament.
In terms of the numbers, the contest is a matchup of Sparta Boss’s strike-force against the defensive quality of Back Circle.
Sparta Boss has recorded five goals from as many matches which is the second best record among the remaining teams. Dennis Edwards leads the offence with two goals while Solomon Austin, Sheldon Shepherd and Courtney Britton has each scored once.
Defensively, the East La Penitence unit has conceded only once with clean-sheets secured in their previous four matches while Back Circle has only scored twice in their campaign through rising stars Jermin Beckles and Sylvester Joseph.
On the defensive end, the East Ruimveldt giant is yet to be breached. Meanwhile, Broad Street Bullies, the 2010 winners, will start as the favourite in their semi-final showdown with newcomers Tucville at 20:00hrs.
Statistically, Broad Street is the most balanced side of the remaining teams. Offensively, they have recorded a tournament leading 10 goals, led by event top scorer Lennox Cort, who has three conversions.
The other seven conversions have come from the boots of siblings Jimmy and Rocky Gravesande, Darren Benjamin, Devon Johnson, Kevin Cummings, Quacey Weeks and an own goal. In terms of their rearguard, Broad Street has conceded once.
For Tucville, three goals have been fashioned by their forward line in Leon Richardson, Dennis Edwards and Delon Williams, while, from a defensive perspective, only one goal has been shipped in.
The winning team will pocket $500,000 and the championship trophy while the second, third and fourth placed unit will receive $200,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively and the corresponding accolades.
