West Demerara overcame a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with Rupununi when the Academy Training Centre (ATC) u13 Football Challenge Series continued yesterday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Coach Travis Bess, Youth Development Officer (YDO) of West Demerara, said, “The team started slowly and as the game went on we got into our own. It was unfortunate we went down two goals in the first half but at the interval we regrouped and went out and had a better showing in the second period. We have positives but there is always room for improvement in the tournament.”
It was a game of two halves, as the home side overcame a significant first half deficit to earn a share of the spoils in front of a small crowd.
The visitors took the lead in the 10th, as Joseph Eusebio found the back of the net. Skipping past the challenge of a defender, Eusebio uncorked a powerful strike which sailed into the right hand corner of the net.
Eusebio then recorded his second in the 23rd minute to put his team firmly in control compliments of an ‘Olympic Goal’. Awarded a corner kick on the right side of the field, Eusebio curled his cross into the area which evaded everyone and settled into the back of the net.
However, upon the resumption, the hosts seized the momentum as Colin Frank-Daniels etched his name on the scorer’s sheet in the 52nd minute.
It was a brilliant individual effort from Frank-Daniels who skipped two defenders before rifling a powerful shot from the top of the box, into the left hand corner.
An own goal then sealed the unlikely comeback in the 61st minute. Michel Castillo made his presence felt in the unexpected conversion, cutting in from the right side of the field into the box, before uncorked a powerful effort which took a massive deflection off the defender and settled into the left side.
Meanwhile, East Bank Demerara defeated Bartica by a 2-1 score line at the National Training Centre, Providence.
Game-1
Rupununi-2 vs West Demerara-2
Rupununi scorer
Joseph Eusebio-10th and 23rd
West Demerara scorer
Colin Frank-Daniel-52nd
Own goal-61st
