A new champion will be crowned tonight in the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ Linden edition after Dave and Celina All-Stars dethroned defending champs Team-25 2-0 in Thursday’s semi-final.
Staged at the New Silver City Tarmac, Keon Sears opened the scoring in the fourth minute, slotting a first time strike from the left side which struck the leg of the final defender and rolled into the back of the net.
Team 25 almost equalized in the 17th minute but Teon Stewart struck the right upright from the right side of the field with a powerful right foot shot.
Rawle Gittens nearly increased Dave and Celina’s lead in the 19th minute, but his goal bound shot from the centre of the field was cleared off the goal-line by the trailing defender.
Following the resumption of the second half, Stewart was denied in the 23rd minute by the outstretched leg of the final defender, who deflected the goal bound effort away to safety.
On the other end, Sears struck the woodwork in the 28th compliments of a powerful right foot shot from the right side of the field, following a counterattack.
Dave and Celina All-Stars eventually recorded the second goal in the 39th minute when Kenard Simon netted, lashing a left side dagger into the back of the net to seal the victory.
With the win, Dave and Celina All-Stars will now face-off with Swag Entertainment in the grand finale after the latter defeated Jermaine and Family Silver Bullets 4-1 in the second semifinal.
Rising star Colwyn Drakes continued his goal scoring prowess, raising his tally to six goals in the campaign as he bagged a hat-trick on either side of halftime.
The skillful attacker found the back of the net in the fourth, 25th and 32nd minute to settle the outcome and seal his team’s berth to the final. Chipping in with a ninth minute conversion in the rout was Shane Luckie.
For the losing team Jermaine Samuels was on target in the 19th minute. The two losers will face off in the third place playoff prior to the grand finale.
Winner of the event will pocket $400,000 and the championship trophy. They will also earn the right to represent the zone at the National Championship.
The runners-up will collect $150,000 and the corresponding accolade. The third and fourth place finishers will walk away with $75,000 and $50,000 apiece and the respective trophy.
