On a night that featured convincing wins for Pele and Beacons, Northern Rangers overcame a 1-0 deficit to upset Santos 3-1 when the Corona Beer Invitational Football Championship continued on Friday.
The Kitty-based unit handed Santos their first loss to date under soggy conditions at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda, compliments of second half goals from Quincy Madramootoo and Steven Sankar, as well as an own goal in the space of 16 unforgettable minutes.
Falling behind to a Kacy John 22nd minute strike into the top left corner, Rangers grabbed the equaliser in the 74th minute when Madramootoo scored, volleying into the lower right corner, after a loose ball fell favourably into his path inside the six-yard box. A horrendous blunder from the goalkeeper gifted Rangers the lead 10 minutes later as a simple through pass into the center of the penalty area, slipped through the grasp of the custodian, allowing the onrushing Sankar to tap the ball into the empty net unchallenged.
The come-from-behind result was sealed in the 90th minute via another error from the backline as a right side cross was inadvertently directed into the lower left corner by the defender.
Meanwhile, Pele dismantled Flamingo 5-0. Stephon Hussein bagged a brace in the 27th and 75th minute while Thairys Payne, Dorwin George and Mark Jhalu scored in the 34th, 71st and 76th minute respectively.
Similarly, Beacons humbled Black Pearl 7-0. Quason McAulay bagged a double in the 26th and 47th minute while Darien Dickson recorded a double in the 17th and 50th minute. Adding to the score line in the 29th, 76th and 81st minute respectively were Kimba Brathwaite, Patrick Joseph and Keifer Brandt. The event will resume today at the same venue with another triple-header.
At 17:00hrs, Riddim Squad will tackle Eastveldt while the second fixture at 19:00hrs will pit Western Tigers against Camptown. In the final clash, Guyana Police Force (GPF) will oppose GFC at 21:00hrs.
Winner of the competition will receive $1,000,000 and the championship trophy, while the second, third and fourth placed finishers will pocket, $400,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively.
Point Standings
Group-A
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts.
N/Rangers 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 7
Santos 3 2 1 0 7 4 +3 6
Pele 3 2 1 0 7 4 +3 6
R/Squad 2 0 0 2 1 1 0 2
Flamingo 3 0 2 1 1 7 -6 1
Eastveldt 2 0 2 0 0 4 -4 0
Group-B
Team GP W L D GF GA GD Pts.
W/Tigers 2 2 0 0 26 1 +25 6
GPF 2 2 0 0 15 1 +14 6
GFC 2 1 1 0 6 2 +4 3
Camptown 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 3
Beacons 3 1 2 0 9 27 -18 3
B/Pearl 3 0 3 0 1 28 -27 0
