Defending champion Melanie-B opposes Uprising while Buxton Diamond tackles Paradise-A today in the semi-finals of the Guinness ‘Greatest of the Streets’ East Coast Demerara zone, after advancing from the group stage on Saturday.
Witnessed by a massive crowd at the Haslington Market Tarmac, the titlist emerged unscathed from group-B with a perfect record of three wins from as many matches.
Melanie-B commenced their group-B campaign with a 1-0 victory over Paradise-A on penalty kicks, after normal time ended 0-0.
In their second match, Melanie-B defeated Mahaica Determinators 2-1 on penalty kicks, following another scoreless encounter.
Melanie-B then concluded their group round with a 1-0 victory over 2015 winners Beterver-wagting (BV)-A from the penalty mark, after regulation ended 0-0.
Similarly, Buxton Diamond ended the group-A atop the standings, defeating Uprising and Belfield Warriors 1-0 respective on penalty kicks, after normal time ended 0-0.
In their final fixture, the Buxtonians downed Victoria Church Yard 2-0. Dillon Wright fashioned a ‘Guinness Goal’ (GG) [a goal scored in the final three minutes counts as two] in the 18th minute.
Meanwhile, Uprising ended group-A in the runner-up position, after defeating Victoria Church Yard and Belfield Warriors respectively.
Uprising edged Victoria 1-0 through a Calvert Hoyte 13th minute strike, before needling Belfield 2-1. Phillip Williams recorded a (GG) in the 18th minute. For the loser, Shamar Holder scored in the 14th minute.
Also, Paradise clinched the final semi-final berth as group-B runner-up, defeating BV-A and Mahaica Determinators in the final two matches. Paradise-A overcame BV-A 1-0 through a Quincy Adams 10th minute conversion.
Paradise then brushed aside Mahaica 2-0 compliments of a double from Adams in the fourth and 14th minute.
Winner of the competition will pocket $400,000 and the championship trophy.
They will also earn an automatic berth to the National Championship while the second, third and fourth place finishers will receive $150,000, $100,000 and $75,000 respectively and the corresponding accolade.
The Guinness Plate Championship will feature the four teams that failed to advance from the group stage. BV-A will oppose Belfield while Victoria Church Yard will battle Mahaica. Below features a complete list of results from the second night of play.Loser (3) vs Loser (4)-22:45hrs