Western Tigers will tackle Santos in a Georgetown derby while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will oppose Winners Connection in the traditional Georgetown versus Linden rivalry today in the Limacol Football championship semi-finals at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.
With both teams acquiring the services of several notable players, the feature contest at 21:00hrs between Western Tigers and Santos is expected to be a very competitive engagement, much different from the last meeting which ended 3-0 in favour of the Tigers weeks earlier.
The West Ruimveldt unit earned their final four spot by eliminating the defending champions Milerock 1-0 while Santos overcame Mahaica Determinators 2-1 in their quarterfinal.
Another subplot of the city contest is that it features two of the three best offensive teams. Western Tigers has scored seven goals, joint best along with the GPF while Santos has netted six times.
Andrew Murray Jr., and Joshua Britton have been the main threats for Western Tigers with two goals each. Despite having the services of Devon Millington, Darren Benjamin, Randolph Wagner, Dwayne McLennon, and Colin Nelson, the other three goals have come from the unlikely sources of Jumane Somerset, Linden Pickets and an own goal.
For Santos, the scoring burden has been shouldered by a youthful contingent led by top scorer Keith Caines with two goals. The other four goals have come off the boots of Orin Yarde, Okeene Fraser, Robby McGloggan and Dominique Bobb.
On the defensive end, both teams defence have been breached thrice. Cleon Forester, Ryan Adolph, Somerset and Pickets though, will be expected to thwart the advances of the Santos strikers while their opposing counterparts in Shem Arthur, Vassel Cantzelaar and Troy Lewis will be tasked with defending the Western Tigers marksmen.
The opening semi-final at 19:00hrs will be a clash of contrasting methods. The attack-minded GPF, owners of seven goals, earned their place in the semi-final after defeating Den Amstel 2-1.
Quincy Holder continues his rise in the local football fraternity with four goals while veteran sharpshooter Dwain Jacobs has scored two goals and Dwayne Charles one.
The attacking threat posed by the officers has papered over their defensive issues as they have conceded four goals which equates to one goal per game. For Winners Connection, defence has been their calling card with only one goal conceded in four matches.
Fitzroy Chin and Marlon Maximus have been imperious in their duties of marshalling the team, evident in their 1-0 win over the talented Eagles unit in the quarterfinals.
Buoyed by their secure backline, the offence has recorded four goals through the veteran legs of Rene Gibbons, Garey Thompson, Sedrick Hunte and Rawle Gittens.
The winning team will pocket $500,000 and a trophy while the second, third and fourth placed teams will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the corresponding accolades.
Banks DIH Limited under the GT Beer Brand, Trophy Stall and Star Party Rentals are the other companies that have thrown their support behind the championship.
