Topp XX and Silver Shattas reached the quarterfinal round when the inaugural Linden Mayor’s Cup Knockout Football Championship continued Friday at the Mackenzie Sports Club [MSC] ground, Linden.
The home side squeaked past Milerock 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 2-2 draw at the end of regulation time.
Prior to the tense finish, Ryan Noel handed Topp XX the lead in the 10th minute after his left side corner-kick was inadvertently parried into the back of the net by the opposing custodian.
The lead proved to be short-lived as Lennox Richards equalised in the 21st minute, heading the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper, following a lobbed pass which evaded the backline.
However, Topp XX responded in the 43rd minute, retaking the lead heading into the halftime interval through Chaka Hall, who redirected an initial corner-kick past the goalkeeper.
The fixture would eventually head down the path of penalty kicks as Tyrese Lewis found the back of the net in the 59th minute.
It was a resourceful finish from the emerging star after a wild attempted clearance from the goalkeeper fell into this path and he calmly converted into the empty net.
Meanwhile, Silver Shattas edged Coomacka 1-0. Dexter Garraway separated the two teams as he found the back of the net in the 28th minute.
In was a moment of individual brilliance as Garraway curled a free-kick from the top of the 18-yard area into the back of the net.
The 12 team tournament is being hosted as part of region’s annual Linden Town Week celebration, continues tonight at the same venue with the quarterfinal round.
In the opening match, Capital FC lock horns with Botofago at 19:00hrs, with Topp XX battling Eagles United from 21:00hrs.
