Elite League members Den Amstel and Milerock sealed their respective berths to the quarterfinal round, following hard-fought wins on Saturday in the Guyana Football Federation [GFF] ‘Stag Beer’ Super-16 Championship.
Witnessed by a sprinkling of spectators at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, Den Amstel came from behind to defeat Santos 2-1.
Following a scoreless first half, Santos took the lead when Sunil Logan found the back of the net in the 53rd minute.
A swift counterattack led to the goal, as Logan slipped behind the rearguard to latch onto a long ball, before rounding the shot-stopper and slotting into the net.
Staring at the possibility of an unexpected exit, Den Amstel secured the equaliser through a Gavin Graham strike in the 79th minute.
Lurking inside the left of the penalty area, Graham uncorked a thunderous strike across the body of the goalkeeper into the far corner, after receiving a pass from the right side.
With a winner unable to be found in the remaining minutes of regulation time, two 15 minute intervals of extra time commenced.
It was during this period that Andre Hector crafted what proved to be the winner in the 105th minute.
The goal mirrored Graham’s conversion as Hector thumped a powerful effort into the right corner, after receiving a right sided pass inside the left of the penalty area.
Meanwhile, Milerock downed Eagles of West Demerara 2-0. Veteran forward Rawle Gittens rolled back the years, as he fashioned a timely double for the Linden unit.
Gittens broke the deadlock compliments of an 11th minute conversion. Racing onto a through pass down the centre of the field, Gittens slotted his effort into the right side of the net.
This proved to be the only conversion of the first half, as the visitors were guilty of profligacy in the final third.
Joel McKinnon and Michael White were the main culprits for the Lindeners, as they spurned several clear cut chances in the contest, in the process handing Eagles FC a lifeline in the matchup.
Gittens was also a guilty party, as he botched a penalty kick in the 60th minute, compliments of a smart save by the goal-keeper.
However, the former Winners Connection forward atoned for his aforesaid error, sealing his double and effectively putting the game beyond reach in the 78th minute.
Sprinting onto a lobbed pass over the backline, Gittens calmly slotted past the advancing custodian into the bottom corner.
The tournament continues today at the Golden Grove ground with another doubleheader. In the opening fixture, Western Tigers will oppose Ann’s Grove from 18:30hrs, while defending champion Guyana Defence Force battles Buxton United at 20:30hrs.
Tomorrow at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, Fruta Conquerors will take aim at Milerock from 18:30hrs, while Den Amstel lock horns with Victoria Kings at 20:30hrs.
Complete Results
Game-1
Milerock-2 vs Eagles-0
Rawle Gittens-11th and 78th
Game-2
Den Amstel-2 vs Santos-1
Den Amstel Scorers
Gavin Graham-79th
Andre Hector-105th
Santos Scorer
Sunil Logan-53rd
