A long, exciting evening of football ended with a penalty shoot out victory for the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) team over Santos in the final of the annual Mayor’s Cup tournament Sunday night at the Georgetown Football club (GFC) Ground.
The win earned the army lads the top prize of $500,000.
It was the first time that both teams had reached the final in the history of the 15-year tournament.
The game saw no goal for either team after full-time which meant that the winner had to be decided in a dreaded penalty shootout.
Both teams scored all five attempts and as the shootout continued it was the Santos team that made the first error which caused GDF to go one-up and win the tournament 6 – 5.
Despite the defeat, Santos put on a terrific performance which earned them the runner up prize of $200,000.
Fruta Conquerors finished third after comfortably defeating Riddim Squad 3 – 1.
The win was worth $100,000 to Conquerors
while Riddim Squad received $50,000 for placing fourth.
Conquerors’ Mustafa Hack, recorded a brace in his team’s victory and the two goals helped him share the Highest Goal Scorer title with Western Tigers’ Nedd Fraser.
Santos’ O’Neil Heywood was adjudged as the tournament’s best goalkeeper while Golden Grove’s Brian Robinson was named as the most improved goalkeeper.
Hack’s goals came in the 24th and 38th minutes which put Conquerors ahead by two at half time.
Paul Bobb extended the lead with a 60th minute goal.
Riddim Squad’s lone goal came in the 90th minute through Litherton Ramsey.
In the friendly encounter that preceded the deciders, Grove Hi-Tec comfortably sank Timehri Panthers 3 – 0.
The tournament organizer stated that the presentation of prizes will be done tomorrow in the Mayor’s office at 10:30hrs.
