Bent Street was crowned the inaugural Magnum Mash Futsal champions after they defeated Sparta Boss 3-2 on penalty kicks Sunday night at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
It was a fitting end to the event as a capacity crowd witnessed a nerve wracking finish, following a 2-2 score at the end of regulation and extra time.
Jermin Junior of Sparta Boss kick-started the penalty shoot-out with a conversion to the left side while Ryan Hackett responded in equal measure with a powerful effort into the left corner.
Sheldon Shepherd handed Sparta Boss a 2-1 lead compliments of a finish into the top right side. However, Solomon Austin leveled proceedings with a finish to the left corner.
The large crowd was then sent into a frenzy when Gregory `Jackie Chan’ Richardson’s effort was denied by the Bent Street goalkeeper diving to his left and Job Caesar sealed the championship in a clinical manner, slotting his effort into the lower left corner, to ignite celebrations on the field.
Bent Street walked away with $400,000 and the championship trophy while Sparta Boss pocketed $200,000 and the corresponding accolade.
Prior to the penalty shoot-out victory, Bent Street took the lead in the 12th minute when Hackett unchallenged, slotted the ball into the lower right corner, from the right side of the playing area.
However, Junior restored parity to the proceedings three minutes later blasting his effort past the custodian from the right side during a one-on-one situation after latching onto a through pass.
Eusi Phillips, who struck the crossbar in the earlier moments of the clash, was denied from handing Sparta Boss the lead once more in the 18th minute as his powerful effort crashed into the left upright.
In a cagey second half, Hackett almost fashioned the winning goal in the 34th minute, uncorking a powerful effort from the left side which was brilliantly denied by the onrushing goalkeeper.
Sparta Boss then suffered a tremendous loss in the 41st minute when Phillips was shown a red card, following a second bookable offence.
Despite his team being reduced to four players for a brief period due to Phillip’s dismissal, Junior handed the Spartans the advantage one minute later.
The wily Junior unleashed a thunderous strike from the right side of the field into the left corner after cutting across the body of his marker.
Nevertheless, the fixture was sent into the penalty shoot-out realm when Kelsey Benjamin placed his attempt into the right corner, after collecting a left side pass.
Earlier, in the third place playoff, Leopold Street squeaked past Silver Bullets 7-6. Okanie Fraser led the way for the victors with a hat-trick in the seventh, 11th and 23rd minute.
He was assisted by Tyrese Forde, Darren Benjamin, Omallo Williams and Orandel Williams, who scored in the 18th, 23rd, 25th and 33rd minute each.
For Silver Bullets, Jermaine Samuels netted a brace in the 21st and 29th minute while Keiron Cameron tallied a double in the 15th and 32nd minute.
Adding goals in the 16th and 34th minute respectively were Damion Williams and Deshawn Freeman.
For the win Leopold Street earned $100,000 and a trophy while the Linden outfit pocketed $50,000 and the respective accolade.
Meeting the teams before the start of the final were coordinator Esan Griffith, Magnum Brand Representative Edison Jefford, Legacy Promotions Secretary Dennis Reis and GFA first Vice-President Frank `English’ Parris.
Complete Results
Final
Sparta Boss-2 vs Bent Street-2
Bent Street won 3-2 on penalty kicks
Bent Scorers
Ryan Hackett-12th
Kelsey Benjamin-45th
Sparta Scorers
Jermin Junior-15th and 42nd
3rd Place
Leopold Street-7 vs Silver Bullets-6
Leopold Scorers
Okanie Fraser-7th, 11th and 23rd
Tyrese Forde-18th
Darren Benjamin-23rd
Omallo Williams-25th
Orandel Williams-33rd
Silver Scorers
Jermaine Samuels-21st and 29th
Keiron Cameron-15th and 32nd
Damion Williams-16th
Deshawn Freeman-34th
