East Ruimveldt defeats Wisburg Secondary on penalty kicks

East Ruimveldt Secondary were crowned the Guyana Sports Development Foundation (GSDF) Pepsi/Scotia Bank national u-17 champions after they defeated Wisburg Secondary 3-0 on penalty kicks after normal time finished nil-all.

Played at the Ministry of Education ground on Saturday, Troyann Barton almost opened the scoring for the Georgetown unit in the 15th minute but her right footed strike from the right side of the box, was denied by the legs of the Linden custodian.

Christy Spencer almost broke the deadlock in the favour of Wisburg Secondary 12 minutes later, lashing her right footed effort just wide of the right hand corner of the net, after latching onto a loose ball within the centre of the area.

East Ruimveldt custodian Decaycia Norville would keep the score line unchanged going into the second period as she denied a Wisburg Secondary penalty kick attempt in the 30th minute, following a reckless challenge within the penalty box.

The stout defending would continue in the second stanza as Deborah Waldron was denied in the 50th minute by the outstretched leg of the final defender, after racing into the penalty box from the right side of the field.

With a winner unable to be found and with no extra time interval slated, penalty kicks were then required to settle the outcome.

The Mandela Avenue unit would then take a 1-0 lead in the opening round of the penalty shoot-out as Wisburg Secondary missed from the mark. Christine Thomas would make it 2-0 for the Georgetown side as Wisburg Secondary missed once more from the spot.

The score line would remain at 2-0 as both sides missed their third attempt from the mark. Needing a conversion to clinch the title, Barton would clinically dispatch her right footed effort into the lower right hand corner to spark wild celebrations.

For their efforts, East Ruimveldt collected the championship trophy and medals while Wisburg Secondary received the second place title and respective medals. In the individual section, Barton was adjudged to be the final’s most valuable player.

On the male side, Berbice Educational Institute (BEI) defeated Wismar/ Christianburg Secondary 5-4 on sudden death kicks after normal time finished 0-0 in their u-15 national finale.