Slingerz Football Club’s winning streak in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League was halted when they battled to a 1-1 result with fierce rivals Alpha ‘the Hammer’ United Tuesday at the Camp Ayanganna ground.
Andrew Murray gave Alpha United the lead in the 47th minute while Slingerz FC equalised in the 51st minute. With the result, Slingerz remain in the top spot and move to 31 points while Alpha United remain in third position on 21 points.
While the contest failed to ignite in the first period in front of a small viewership, Murray pushed Alpha United into the lead upon the start of the second stanza, directing his unchallenged header inside the centre of the box into the middle of the net, after collecting a right side cross.
The lead proved to be a brief one as the West Demerara outfit equalised four minutes onward compliments of a curling free-kick from the left side from Joseph which sailed into the left hand corner.
With the matchup balancing on the proverbial knife’s edge, Murray fluffed a great opportunity to re-establish the Hammers lead in the 75th minute, directing a powerful header at point blank range at the custodian who brilliantly tipped the effort over the crossbar, following a cross into the six yard area.
Another great chance was spurned by Alpha United five minutes onward as Delon Lanferman, upon pouncing on a loose ball inside the centre of the box after the custodian spilt a previous effort, stabbed his effort straight at the onrushing goalkeeper.
The Vergenoegen unit was then reduced to 10 men as Clive Nobrega picked up his second yellow card for a reckless tackle in the 83rd minute. Nevertheless, Slingerz held on in the final minutes to seal a share of the spoils.
Meanwhile, in the opening fixture Fruta Conquerors claimed their seventh consecutive victory, coming from a goal down to defeat Monedderlust by a 2-1 score line.
It was the second such comeback for the Tucville unit in recent memory as goals from Jahaal Greaves and Reshawn Sandiford in the 72nd and 76th minutes sealed the hard-fought result.
On target in the loss was speedster Kevin Cottoy in the 51st minute. With the result, the Tucville giant move onto 28 points and solidify the second position while the Berbice based outfit remain in seventh place on sixth points.
Action in the event is slated to continue on Friday at the same venue. In the opening fixture at 18:00hrs, the Guyana Defence Force will oppose Alpha United while Slingerz FC will tackle Fruta Conquerors in the feature affair from 20:30hrs.
Winner of the League Finale round will pocket $4,000,000 while the second, third and fourth place teams will collect $2,000,000, $1,000,000 and $500,000 respectively. Similarly, the point’s leader prior to the knockout stage will pocket an additional $1,000,000.
The season champion will then be crowned when the winner of the League Genesis and League Finale respectively faceoff in a single matchup. That winner will then earn an automatic berth at the CFU level.
If the winner of the League Genesis and League Finale rounds are the same team, they will earn the automatic CFU spot, with the second berth going to the team with the most accumulated points in both rounds non-inclusive of the eventual season champion.
