Alpha, Uprising, Western Tigers and Flamingo storm into semis

Alpha ‘The Hammer’ United, Uprising, Flamingo and BK International Western Tigers have all advanced to the semi-finals of this year’s Mackeson-sponsored English/Kashif and Shanghai Futsal tournament following wins in what was by far one of the most heated nights of the tournament.

Dexter Bentinck smoothly places the ball past Winners Connection goalie and striker Rawle Gittens (#10) after receiving a pass from teammate Omali Nassy (#10) to score one of his four goals for Uprising (Orlando Charles photo)

Playing at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Monday, Uprising rose to the occasion and trounced Winners Connection of Linden 9-2; Flamingo edged Georgetown Football Club (GFC) 4-3 in overtime; Western Tigers vanquished Fruta Conquerors 3-1 and the ‘Hammer’ squeezed past Pele 2-1 on penalty kicks.

Alpha, considered one of the city’s most dominant football teams, was made to fight hard against Pele as both teams looking to improve on their status in Futsal, played to goalless regulation and extra time and sent the game into penalty.

Alpha’s custodian Ronson Williams pulled off some good saves and sent his side one step closer to claiming the $500,000 first prize.

Meanwhile, the Tigers, after going one goal down in the early stages of the game courtesy of a second-minute strike from Dellon Williams, roared their way back into the game after gaining a morale booster and equalizer from Ryan Thomas in the eight minute.

The rest of the game belonged to their premier striker Devon Millington who took the

Bombs away! Western Tigers striker Devon Millington (#9) sends a hard right footer which beat the advancing Fruta Conquerors keeper (Orlando Charles photo)

game into his own hands, netting a double (13th and 18th minutes) to secure the win for the BK International-sponsored team.

The Uprising/Winners Connection gamed turned out to be a goal fest and a one-sided affair as the Linden team failed to connect to goal and to play as a team.

Dexter ‘Dribbler’ Bentinck was at his best teaming up with Omali Nassy to terrorize the Linden team.

Bentick opened the scoreboard with a well-timed volley in the eighth minute after receiving a pass from Nassy who then scored the first of his double in the 11th minute.

Dameil Favourite then gave his side a 3-0 lead going into the second half after netting in the sixth and ninth minutes.

The second period was all about ‘Dribbler’ who slammed in three more goals (17th, 20th and 21st minute) goals while Nassy netted his other goal in the 18th minute.

Royston Marques then closed the deal in the 29th minute.

Rawle ‘Bony’ Gittens was playmaker and turned out to be the only player who found the back of the net for the losers. He netted a double.

Leon Yaw once again showed that age is just a number when he led the Flamingo offensive attack by netting a double (9th and 11th minutes) and also playing a captain’s role by steering his team into the semis.

Dellon Layne (19th) and Devon Allen (10th) were the other scorers for the winners while the Chad Fernandes double (6th and 8th minutes) were scored in vain as his team was given marching orders.

Uprising will now face Western Tigers and Flamingo will go head to head with Alpha United in the semi-finals at a date to be announced.