Bent Street will oppose arch-rival and defending champion Sparta Boss in the final of the ‘Keep Ya Five Alive’ Futsal Championship following contrasting semi-final wins on Friday evening at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue.
Bent Street squeaked past Back Circle 3-2 in their 30 minute regulation time encounter. Pernell Schultz handed Bent Street the lead in the sixth minute, an advantage they would maintain heading into the halftime interval, after he rifled a power right footed strike from the right side of the field into the far corner.
However, Simeon Moore equalized in the 21st minute, lobbing the advancing goalkeeper Akel Clarke during a one-on-one situation. Bent Street then responded through Colin Nelson in the 25th minute to retake the lead 2-1 as Nelson uncorked a powerful left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
Nevertheless, Back Circle forced the match into the extra time interval when Cecil Jackman levelled proceedings in the 28th minute, stabbing home into the back of the net from inside the penalty area.
With the first half of overtime unable to produce a conversion, Schultz pushed Bent Street ahead in the 36th minute, completing his brace as slotted into the back of the net from inside the area. Back Circle was handed the perfect opportunity to restore parity in the dying moments following a penalty. However, Stephon McLean failed to convert from the distance, as goalkeeper Clarke denied his effort.
In the other fixture, Sparta Boss’ brushed side traditional foe Gold is Money 7-2. Kelsey Benjamin and Darren Niles recorded respective doubles, whilst Curtez Kellman, Ryan Hackett, and Jermin Junior netted one goal apiece in the lopsided result. On target in the loss were Deon Alfred and Hubert Pedro.
The winners will now face each other in the championship encounter which is billed for August 26th at the same venue. The losing semi-finalists will face-off in the third place playoff.
The winner of the event will pocket $950,000, and the championship trophy, whilst the second, third, and fourth place finishers will receive $475,000, $237,000, and $118,000 respectively, and the corresponding accolade.
