Beacons give Linden a repeat on platter
From Gary Tim
in New York
New York, USA (SMS) — Red! The color just has the power to create, even, the most abrupt of stops. And, that’s what the crimson tint did in the Guyana-USA Soccer League 2009 final as an ejection card caused the scarlet-clad Beacons FC to surrender their championship challenge with a display of boorish fury.
Playing on Wednesday against title holders Linden United, Beacons controlled all but five minutes of play. In that nickel, the number one-ranked team lapsed to allow United to put a pair of nails into their coffin in the wink of an eye. The last, in the 24th minute, was a free-kick that amazingly pierced a wall of Beacons bodies at the goal line, and raised the Beacons zombie which came out for blood with rage redder than their uniforms.
Heading back to the touch line, a melee ensued after referee Colin ‘BL’ Aaron raised a red card on Beacons goalkeeper Neil Sailin, for what he called “verbal abuse”. The added dent was unbearable to some colleagues who swooped on Aaron in obvious appeals for a retraction. But, the diminutive official stood his ground though dwarfed amidst the mounting derisive assailing from the towering finalists. By this time, too, security officials had appeared to smother any thoughts of harm.
Psyche bruised, Beacons slugged off the playing area at Brooklyn’s Aviator Stadium, unmindful of attempts by officials and fans to “suck it up and move” as in the words of ‘Soccer Shelly’, an fervent female fan who did the ceremonial kick-off, earlier.
Aaron signaled the game was effectively ended, and stressed that “it’s not abandoned, it’s terminated, the result at the time holds.” That gave United the imposing seven foot tall Mike’s Tire Shop trophy and both championships in the two-year-old league. The FIFA certified referee told Stabroek Sports he pulled the card on Sailin for his attack, clarifying that contrary to fans’ belief, Beacons were not in anyway protesting the free kick. “No they didn’t contest that, they mauled me with abuse over the card.”
The match was preceded by a notable pre-game ceremony, underlining a finale where all teams were attired in colours of the Golden Arrowhead. From the opening whistle, it was red-driven as though Beacons were a case of the old adage where the angry man stems from the hungry man state. They came out apparently starved for the crown, and quickly challenged their rivals’ defense, making breaks and testing United’s goalie constantly.
Early on, both teams were guilty of offsides, notably United since Beacons had a trap with its four-man defense playing very high. Also, Beacons’ offense was expertly marshalled by midfielder Dexter ‘JJ’ Cort who fed strikers Jermaine Scott and Kurt Daniels to blast shots on target from all angles and distances. In the eighth minute a left-footed Scott scorcher forced a daring, diving save from United’s goalie to thwart the goal.
Undaunted, Scott again sailed a high drive to the right ‘V’ of goal for the `keeper to leap into action, 12 minutes in. United, then, countered with a 3-on-2 breakaway, only to see the ball go off target as they tried to get an angular shot on the advancing Sailin.
In the 18th minute, Cort, who came out of hospitalization for this game, sent a header just wide of target from a corner kick, and immediately began to show signs of fatigue. He stayed in the game, however, and was fouled by opposing captain Akintunde ‘Riggit’ Rudder. The resulting free-kick sent high and turning over the ‘wall’ by ‘Solo’ was barely saved by United’s `keeper.
Beacons kept up the pressure until the 22nd minute, when United finally spat out their offensive which had taken root in the defending champs’ throats like phlegm. A long pass over the top from Rawle Hensford found the burly, but agile Julien Bacchus who tucked the sphere into the old onion bag after Sailin advanced once too many times. Linden – 1, Beacons – 0.
An inspired bunch, United stole the ball from an inaccurate Beacons pass shortly after the kick-off. Hensford once again came in, dribbled his way down the right flank and lobbed it into the box where the referee blew an infringement on Beacons. It was Bacchus, again, who converted the free-kick in the 24th minute. Linden – 2, Beacons – 0.
Being outscored after scheming the game by almost a 4:1 ratio, Beacons drew one from their sleeves. Ta-da. The trump, more than anything else, seemed to be agitation. It so it was. But, it bungled their hopes of a comeback, and the fans’ hopes for a full spectacle.
The dying embers of Beacons campaign was doused when unidentified persons ruined the impressive runners-up trophy which was also sponsored by Mike’s Tire Shop. The uncouth deed was baffling since the award was, earlier, accepted by a club representative. Minutes later, the team medals which were handed over en masse, were strewn just outside the presentation area.
The fracas ended “a clash for the ages, a real football treat”, according to businessman Ivory ‘Ivor’ Leacock who came from Guyana to witness the final. Leacock was among the ‘early birds’ at the cool summer evening’s double-header that saw the same four clubs that played the 2008 finale, take to the turf again, albeit in a changed order. Last year Beacons had beat Camptown FC for third place, while former ‘cellar dwellers’ United upstaged favs Juniors FC for the championship.
Popular socialite Jennifer Perreira who lusty sang Guyana’s national anthem at the start, said the fiasco was a slap in her face. “It’s definitely not sportsmanlike, it’s not right.” She added, “I know you guys have a league here, but I didn’t know the level was so high, because I came back after I was here on Saturday,” referring to the semi-finals and a special ‘celebrities game’ a few days before.
After collecting the winner’s bo
oty, Rudder and Hensford who also coaches United echoed regret over the game’s premature end. “But, we were confident to get this positive result tonight. We showed a lot of character,” Hensford added. Following the game, Beacons striker Quincy Jordan was contrite over the team’s self-inflicted demise. “I was really upset and embarrassed the way some of my team reacted,” cited the substitute striker.
It was an anti-climax to a stunning season and it also put the third place-playoff game on the backburner. That duel saw Juniors outclass Camptown 3-0 for the Patty Plus-sponsored trophy. The 2008 runners-up had time to spar with their opponents; creating deft goal-scoring moves, as well as switching their goalkeeper and a striker who eventually made a dazzling save to a penalty.
In the end, Juniors’ customary custodian Adrian Alfred snagged the season’s Best Goalkeeper award, sponsored by Nicholas International Shipping Inc. Other honours were given to another keeper, Nigel Roberts for the Abby’s Level-sponsored Fair Play trophy, as well as his club, Veterans FC for the Most Disciplined Team. Maybe, just maybe, the green-shirted club could be on the ‘go-ahead’ to direct about the benefits of self control.
