Tournament favourite Region #4 will battle Region #3 in the ‘One Guyana President’s Cup’ Football Championship match on Sunday at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora, following semi-final wins on Wednesday evening.
Region #4 embarrassed Region #5 by an 8-1 score in a thoroughly lopsided encounter. The contest, which was viewed by a sprinkling of spectators, was effectively over at the halftime interval, as the Region #4 romped to a commanding and insurmountable 4-0 advantage.
Nicholas MacArthur commenced the rout in the 18th following horrendous error by the goalkeeper, as the ball slipped out his hand during his attempt to throw to a teammate, allowing the forward to pounce and shoot into the empty net.
MacArthur then completed his brace 12 minutes later to double the lead, racing onto a lobbed through pass from the defender, before sprinting away from his marker, and lobbed the advancing goalkeeper during a one on one situation.
3-0 then became a reality in the 42nd minute, as defender Jeremy Garrett netted, directing his powerful header unchallenged into the right corner after latching onto a left sided corner-kick.
Kelsey Benjamin then capped off the first half blitz in the 45th+1 minute from the penalty spot following a handball infraction, slotting his effort into the lower left corner.
The carnage resumed in the second stanza, as Omari Glasgow got into the scoring act in the 51st minute, directing his lobbed header into the top right corner following a left sided cross.
Daniel Wilson increased the score to 6-0 in the 53rd minute, receiving a flat pass from the left of the box, before thumping his effort unchallenged inside the centre of the box into the left corner.
Glasgow then completed his brace two minutes later to push the score to 7-0, stabbing his effort into the lower right corner, after latching onto a flat right sided cross. Samuel Garnett sealed Region #4’s tally for the night with a 71st minute conversion.
On target for the loser with a consolation goal was Abumchi Benjamin in the 85th minute.
Meanwhile, Region #3 overcame a 0-1 deficit to defeat Region #7 5-2. Whitney Welcome handed Region #7 the early lead in the third minute, racing onto a lobbed through pass before dribbling the defender and rifling the ball into the lower left corner from inside the penalty area However, Delon Lanferman equalised in the 24th minute, slotting home into the left corner after an initial cross from the left side was deflected into his onrushing path.
Trayon Bobb then seized the 2-1 lead for Region #3 in the 31st minute, following a goalkeeper error, as an initial shot from 22 yards outside the centre of the box was spilt by the custodian into the path of the forward who slammed home.
The home side doubled their advantage in the 55th minute, as Lanferman recorded his double, slotting into the empty net from inside the six yard box after receiving a flat pass from the left side.
However, Region #7 reduced the deficit at 3-2, as Andrew Simmons converted from the penalty spot in the 69th minute following a clumsy challenge inside the box.
Nevertheless, Jamal Perreira restored Region #3’s two goal advantage in the 72nd minute, recording an ‘Olympic Goal’ as his left sided corner-kick evaded everyone and nestled into the right corner.
Dexroy Adams then sealed the result in the 81st minute, racing onto a through pass before dribbling onrushing goalkeeper and slotting into the empty net. The losing semi-finalists will compete in the third place playoff.
Complete Results
Game-1
Region #4 – 8 vs Region #5 – 1
Region #4 scorers
Nicholas MacArthur – 18th and 30th
Omari Glasgow – 51st and 55th
Jeremy Garrett – 42nd
Kelsey Benjamin – 45th+1
Daniel Wilson – 53rd
Samuel Garnett – 71st
Region #5 scorer
Abumchi Benjamin – 85th
Game-2
Region #3 – 5 vs Region #7 – 2
Region #3 scorers
Delon Lanferman – 24th and 55th
Trayon Bobb – 31st
Jamal Perreira – 72nd
Dexroy Adams – 81st
Region #7 scorers
Whitney Welcome – 3rd
Andrew Simmons – 69th
