A second-half offensive blitz propelled Melanie to the 592 Beer ‘Skills for Cash’ 7-aside football championship after they overcame a 0-2 deficit to defeat Monedderlust 5-2 in the final Friday at the No. #5 ground, West Coast Berbice.
Faced with a large hostile crowd, the visiting Melanie outfit fell behind in the 12th minute when a Travis Henry right-footed strike from outside the box, took a deflection off a defender, and settled into the lower right corner of the net.
The home side then doubled their lead five minutes later when Henry made his presence felt once more to complete his brace, lobbing a 35-yard right-footed free-kick from the right side of the field over the head of the goalkeeper into the left corner.
The conversions sparked wild celebrations among the crowd. Nonetheless, talisman William Europe ignited the comeback, as he reduced the deficit heading into the halftime interval via a shot from outside the box, which also took a deflection into the lower right corner of the net.
The match then proved to be a game of two halves as the visitors recorded a further four unanswered goals to stun the large home support following the resumption of play. Central defender Mark Jhalu restored parity to proceedings with a moment of individual brilliance in the 42nd minute.
Picking up the ball from his half, Jhalu evaded several challenges, before uncorking a left-footed strike from outside the centre of the box, into the roof of the right corner.
The East Coast Demerara outfit then seized the lead one minute as Colin Hendricks slotted past the advancing goalkeeper into the lower right corner from inside the left of the penalty area, following a one-on-one situation.
The score then ballooned to 4-2 compliments of another Hendricks conversion in the 52nd minute, placing his first-time right-footed effort into the lower-left corner from inside the box, after receiving a 25-yard pass from the right side of the field by Europe with the outside of his foot.
The outcome was sealed in the 58th minute, when Malachi Granum directed a powerful header unchallenged down the middle of the net, after latching onto a right-sided cross inside the centre of the penalty area.
With the win, Melanie walked away with $300,000 and the championship trophy while the losing finalists received $200,000, and the runners-up accolade.
In the third-place playoff, Rosignol United dismissed Golden Grove 4-2 to earn $100,000 and the respective trophy while Golden Grove pocketed $50,000 and the corresponding accolade. The event was organized by Cool Crew Promotion and Virgil Watts Construction.
