‘Rats Memorial’ Football Championship
– Rivers View clinches women’s crown
Rising Stars and Rivers View captured the men’s and women’s divisional crowns, respectively, when the annual ‘Rats Memorial’ Football Championship concluded on Sunday evening at the Bartica Community Centre ground.
Rising Stars defeated Potaro Strikers 4-3 on sudden death penalty kicks after regulation time failed to produce a winner. The first round of the penalty shootout failed to separate the teams, as following missed conversions from both sides.
The score then progressed to 1-1 as both teams converted in the second round, with Rising Stars scoring first and Potaro equalising. The third stanza mirrored the second, as both teams once again netted from the distance to advance the score to 2-2.
Rising Stars then handed Potaro the perfect opportunity to take the lead, as they missed to start the fourth stanza. However, Potaro failed to capitalise on their foe’s error, as they also failed to score from the distance. The sudden death penalty realm was then required to decide the contest, as both teams scored in the fifth round to push the score to 3-3. Rising Stars then took the lead at 4-3 as they converted to start the sudden death round.
Potaro would seal their own defeat, as they failed to score. With the win, Rising Stars received $400,000 and the championship trophy. On the other hand, the Potaro Strikers collected $200,000 and the second-place accolade.
In the women’s final, Rivers View downed the Potaro Strikers 3-0 on penalty kicks after regulation time ended 1-1. Prior to the eventual conclusion, Shemira Hing gave Potaro Strikers the initial lead in the 23rd minute. However, Latoya Williams equalised for Rivers View as she found the back of the net in the 56th.
Due to the outcome, Rivers View pocketed $175,000 and the championship, while the loser walked away with $50,000 and the corresponding accolade. Dog Point, who was the third team in the division, received $25,000 and an award.
Meanwhile, in the third-place encounter, Agatash dismissed Beacons 3-1. Michael Hope broke the deadlock in favour of Agatash as he etched his name on the score-sheet in the seventh minute. Hope then doubled their advantage as he completed his brace five minutes later.
Beacons eventually reduced the deficit in the 19th minute via a Brian Joseph strike. The score remained unchanged heading into the halftime interval. Upon the resumption, Ashton Simmons restored Agatash’s two-goal advantage as he made his presence felt in the 49th minute.
With the result, Agatash received $100,000 and the third-place award, while Beacons walked away with $50,000 and the corresponding accolade.
Complete Results
Women’s Division
Final
Rivers View-1 vs. Potaro Strikers-1
Rivers View won 3-0 on penalty kicks
Rivers View scorer
Latoya Williams-56th
Potaro scorer
Shemira Hing-23rd
Men’s Division
3rd Place
Beacons vs. Agatash-3
Agatash scorers
Michael Hope-7th and 12th
Ashton Simmons-49th
Beacons scorer
Brian Joseph-19th
Final
Potaro Strikers-0 vs. Rising Stars-0
Rising Stars won 4-3 on sudden death penalty kicks
