After nine months of inaction due to the coronavirus pandemic, competitive football made its highly anticipated return with a pair of matches Tuesday at the National Stadium.
Curtez Kellman scored the opening goal in Linden All Stars’ 4-2 victory over the East Coast All Stars while the GT All Stars edged the West Side All Stars 3-2 in a thriller in the ‘Bounce Back’ football tournament which got underway without fans.
In the first competitive football game here amidst the pandemic, midfielder Kellman scored off of a throw in on the right side after dribbling past two defenders and chipping a right footer over the advancing goalkeeper just inside the box.
Five minutes before the half-time whistle, Abumuchi Benjamin was left pinching himself after scoring a sensational goal burying a right-footer from 10 yards out from an assist by Pernell Schultz.
The East Coast All Stars came out of the locker room with a better sense of urgency and their hustle paid dividends as forward Omari Glasgow sent in a screamer from about 15 yards out before retrieving the ball from the back of the net and racing with it to centre pitch.
The euphoria was short-lived as a minute later, Jermaine Junor, collected a gem of a pass from Schultz on the left side of the five-yard box and nailed it to put his side up 3-1.
In the 57th minute, Benjamin added his name to the score sheet once again after penetrating several defenders on the left side and tapping in a right footer which beat the outstretched arms of the ‘keeper near the five-yard box.
After a hand ball inside the box, Jemar Harrigan was on target from the penalty spot in the 78th to bring a little more respectability to the score in a game which was dominated by the ballers of the Mining Town.
In the sea-saw affair of the double header, the GT All Stars came out hot as Nicholas McArthur put his stamp on the game in the second minute, slotting home the first goal of the game just inside the 18-yard box.
After missed penalties by both sides, Sheldon Holder knotted the score at one apiece with a sweetly-timed kick just inside the box seconds before the half.
After much probing, Trayon Bobb finally breached Alex Murray’s impregnable defence to put the West Side team up 2-1 in the 58th.
McArthur then pounced on a loose ball inside the box in the 64th to slot home the equalizer.
The game was in the balance and those present felt that whichever team scored again would win. Sure enough, Captain, Daneil Wilson buried a free-kick just outside the box in the 81st minute. His goal proved to be the game winner.
With the wins, the final should be epic as it will be a Linden versus Georgetown clash for the spoils.
The final will be broadcast live from 18:00hrs on NCN, E-Networks and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Facebook page.
