A Most Valuable Player [MVP] performance from eventual awardee Anthonio Wallace, propelled Guyana Police Force to the Limacol football championships after they defeated Pouderoyen 4-2 Friday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Witnessed by a sizable crowd, Wallace delivered three fatal strikes, two of which occurred in the first half to seal the title that had evaded their grasp last year, when they finished second. Wallace opened the scoring in the 12th minute, racing into the centre of the box, and finishing past the advancing goalkeeper Sherwin Bernard.
The burley forward made his presence felt once again in the 32nd minute, darting onto a pass inside the right of the penalty area, before slotting his effort into the lower left corner.
Pouderoyen eventually pulled one back under fortuitous circumstances in the 34th minute as a tame Alex Andrews strike from 28 yards out, inexplicably rolled through the legs of the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
The second half started in the worst possible manner for the West Demerara side, who were reduced to 10 players, after Ashley Harding was red-carded in the 53rd minute for elbowing an opponent.
The lawmen quickly capitalised on their numerical advantage with Wallace sealing his hat-trick in the 60th minute.
Racing down the right side, Wallace unleased a powerful strike which took a deflection off the leg of the challenging defender, in the process wrong-footing custodian Bernard and sailing into the top left corner. The score line grew to 4-1 in the 82nd minute as former Pouderoyen ace Dextroy Adams spun onto his left foot inside the centre of the box and hammered a fierce drive into the top left corner.
Pouderoyen eventually tallied a consolation goal in the 90th+1 minute, as Darrel Abrams converted a penalty kicks.
With the win, the lawmen collected $600,000 and a trophy while the losing team received $300,000 and the runners-up accolade.
Manasseh Primo received the Highest Goal Scorer accolade with six conversions while Frank collected was adjudged the Best Goalkeeper with only three goals conceded.
Meanwhile, Riddim Squad edged Santos 2-1 to claim the third position. James Bowman and Kevin Gordon netted for the winners in the 44th and 112th minute, after Santos took the lead in the fifth minute following an own goal.
Riddim Squad pocketed $150,000 and a trophy while Santos received $75,000 and a trophy.
