Sparta Boss overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat California Square 4-2 when the opening group night of the inaugural Guyana Beverage Company Busta soft-shoe football championships commenced Thursday at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground.
Nash Moe gave the East Ruimveldt unit the shock lead in the second minute in front of a small gathering, finishing past the advancing ‘keeper from the centre of the box down the middle of the goal.
It would then become 2-0 one minute later as Vassel Canzelaar netted compliments of a powerful right-footed strike into the lower left hand corner, from just outside the centre of the penalty box.
However, Sparta Boss would cut the deficit to one two minutes before half time as Travis Grant netted in the 13th minute, flicking the ball through the legs of the ‘keeper down the middle of the net, after collecting a pass within the centre of the area.
Opting to employ defensive tactics, California Square would frustrate the Sparta Boss frontline as they were unable to fashion any clear cut chances for the majority of the second period.
The rearguard would eventually be breached in the 28th minute as Devon Millington netted with a strike into the lower right hand corner.
The East La Penitence-based unit would then take the lead for the first time in the fixture one minute later as Millington sealed his brace, unleashing a powerful right-footed strike which sailed into the roof of the right corner from outside the right of the box.
Victory would then be sealed in the final minute as Gregory Richardson etched his name on the scorer’s sheet, placing a right footed shot unchallenged into the empty net, after a Millington back-heel pass from the right side of the box, found him within the area.
In final matchup of the opening night, Albouystown and Holmes Street Tiger Bay battled to a 1-1 in the ‘clash for the ghetto’.
Marlon Nedd gave Albouystown the advantage in the 10th minute, directing his well-placed header into the left hand corner after collecting a lobbed left sided Devon Dooker pass within the right side of the area.
Nevertheless, Calvin Shepherd would level the outcome four minutes onward, lashing his powerful effort into the ceiling of the woodwork following an intercepted Nedd pass within the attacking third.
The fourth fixture saw Alexander Village and Charlestown battling to a 4-4 gridlock. Chavez Lescott led Alexander Village with double in the 12th and 13th minutes while Quincy Bourne and Jermin Junior netted in the 11th and 25th minutes respectively.
Clyde Bascom and Devon Charles led the winners with respective doubles. Bascom found the back of the net in the fourth and 18th minute while Charles netted in the 17th and 26th minutes.
In the third matchup of the night, Sophia defeated Broad Street by a 4-2 margin. Dwayne Lowe led the way with a hat-trick in the sixth, ninth and 14th minutes while Shemroy Arthur scored in the second minute.
On target in the loss were Ryan Jones and Akeem Sam in the 12th and 13th minutes respectively. In other results, Ballers defeated Durban Street 6-5 while Tucville held Leopold Street to a 3-3 draw. Victors of the tourney will receive the championship trophy and $600,000.
The second, third and fourth placed sides will receive $300,000, $200,000 and $100,000 respectively and the respective accolade.
Following the end of the initial group stage, the winner of the group will receive $25,000 while the second, third and fourth finishers within the group will receive $15,000, $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.
The action is slated to continue at the same venue today with the second round of group fixtures. In the opening fixture at 19:00hrs, Queen Street Tiger Bay will faceoff with Cross Street while North Ruimveldt will tackle Globe Yard from 19:45hrs.
The third fixture will witness Back Circle facing off with West Back Road from 20:30hrs whilst the fourth fixture will pit Bent Street against North East La Penitence from 21:00hrs.
In the final two fixtures, Festival City will tackle Kitty Weavers at 21:45hrs while Stevedore Housing Scheme will oppose West Front Road-Gold is Money from 22:30hrs.
