Defending champion Northern Rangers and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) will battle in the semifinal round of the Turbo Energy Drink Knockout Football Championships, following quarterfinal wins Sunday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Northern Rangers defeated Riddim Squad 2-0 on penalty kicks, after regulation and extra time failed to produce a goal.
Rangers started the shoot-out positively as they converted through recent recruit Damion Williams.
The same could not be said for Riddim Squad who failed from the distance as Kevin Gordon fired over the crossbar. The Kitty-based outfit then spurned the opportunity to double their advantage in the second round as they too missed from the distance.
Riddim Squad continued to misfire as Dorville Stewart blasted his effort over the crossbar. Rangers eventually capitalized in the third round to take a 2-0 lead, scoring to the left corner.
Rangers goalkeeper Simon Emmanuel then made his presence felt, as he denied Riddim Squad with a smart save to his right to end the third round.
A brilliant save from the Riddim Squad goalkeeper Ron Liverpool to start the fourth round denied Rangers the opportunity to secure the result. However, custodian Emmanuel sealed Rangers berth in the final, crafting another save to his left.
Meanwhile GFC edged Santos’ U20 unit 2-1 in extra time. Marcus Wilson opened the scoring in the 19th minute for Santos, converting down the center of the net from the penalty spot following a clumsy challenge inside the right of the 18-yard area.
GFC, however, restored parity to proceedings via a Deon Alfred conversion from the penalty mark in the 32nd minute. Alfred thumped his left foot effort into the left corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.
Santos almost retook the lead in the 67th minute as a powerful right foot strike from Darren Niles from outside the center of the penalty box, crashed into the left upright.
Stephon Reynolds of Santos was also denied by the woodwork in the 82nd minute, uncorking a thunderous strike from the right side of the field, which cannoned into the crossbar.
A goalkeeping blunder would, however, hand GFC the hard-fought win in the 108th minute, as a deflected shot from an initial free kick, was fumbled by the goalkeeper, allowing the forward to head home unchallenged inside the six yard box.
Complete Results
Game-1
Northern Rangers-0 vs Riddim Squad-0
Northern Rangers won 2-0 on penalty kicks
Game-2
GFC-2 vs Santos u20-1
GFC Scorers
Deon Alfred-32nd
Paul Fields-108th
Santos Scorer
Marcus Wilson-19th
