Second half goals from Olvis Mitchell and Delroy Fraser propelled the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) to the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) League Leaders Knockout Championships defeating Fruta Conquerors 2-0 Sunday at the Camp Ayanganna ground. Both conversions came during the final five minutes of the contest after the home side had survived an onslaught by the visitors who were guilty of wasting many goal scoring opportunities.
Mitchell broke the deadlock in the 86th minute, rifling a shot into the lower left corner from outside the right of the penalty box and sending the large crowd into a frenzy.
Fraser then sealed the outcome in the 90th+1 minute, lobbing his effort from the left side of the field over the goalkeeper’s head and into the right corner. It was the third consecutive win for the army unit against Fruta Conquerors and they duly walked off with the first prize of $1,500,000 and the championship trophy. The losing finalist will receive $700,000 and the corresponding accolade.
Unlike their previous fixture which ended 2-1, the visitors were in total control from kickoff. The match was plagued by rainfall in its entirety and Fruta Conquerors should have taken a sizeable lead at the end of the first period. Eon Alleyne set the tone for Conquerors by missing two great chances in the opening 10 minutes, opting to pass the ball instead of shooting with only the custodian in his path. Anthony Abrams also spurned a great chance in the 22nd minute, stealing the ball off the final defender only to fire his effort directly at the advancing goalkeeper Enoch Carmichael in a one-on-one situation.
Pernell Schultz was then denied in the 36th minute as his right foot shot, after cutting into the left of the box, was tipped around the left upright by Carmichael.
The second half mirrored the first as the visitors continued to craft the better chances only for their profligacy inside the final third in combination with dogged goalkeeping, resulting in their failure to score.
Abrams was denied by the outstretched leg of a defender in the 52nd minute after latching onto the ball on the left side of the box. The veteran forward was thwarted once more in the 61st minute by a timely challenge from the onrushing goalkeeper after racing into the right side of the box.
Alleyne then saw his header from inside the six-yard box parried by Carmichael seven minutes later following a cross from the right side.
Midfielder Konata Manning was the next Conquerors member to be denied in the 77th minute, lashing a strike from 35 yards out in the center of the field which crashed into the crossbar.
The visitors lived to rue their missed chances as the home side scored twice in the space of five minutes to seal the title.
Victoria Kings by virtue of defeating Buxton United in the first elimination fixture, finished in the third position and will receive $500,000. Buxton United will pocket $300,000.
GDF also clinched the inaugural National Women’s Developmental League, defeating Rupununi based unit Piawomak 2-1.
Kendra Thomas and Abioce Heywood found the back of the net in the seventh and 26th minute respectively. On target for the losing team was Jackie Williams in the 54th minute.
In the third place playoff, Rupununi-based St. Ignatius downed Fruta Conquerors 3-1. Amanda Cabral scored twice in the 21st and 46th minute whilst Sonia Griffith netted in the 60th minute. On target in the loss was Natalie Nedd in the 29th minute.
Present to witness the matches were Minister within the Ministry of Indigenous People’s Affairs, Valerie Garrido-Lowe and GFF President, Wayne Forde.
