A sublime Gregory Richardson free kick in the dying minutes secured Pele FC a hard-fought 2-2 draw with arch-rivals Alpha ‘the Hammer’ United when the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Stag Beer Elite League continued on Wednesday.
The large gathering at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground in Bourda was treated to a moment of sheer quality as talisman Richardson came back to haunt his former side with the 87th minute conversion.
Awarded a free kick 24 yards from goal following a handball infraction by Quincy Madramootoo, Richardson sent the entire venue into a frenzy as he curled his right-footed effort into the left hand corner, sealing his double and a valuable point in the process.
Due to the draw, Pele moved to the top of the standings with four points from two games. On the other hand, the Georgetown outfit still awaits their first win in the event as they sit on two points from as many matches.
Prior to the fixture’s dramatic ending, Pele took the early lead in the 10th minute, stunning their rivals as a tame Richardson header from the right side of the box following a left-sided cross, hit the ground and bounced into the left side of the net.
On the other end, Alpha United almost equalised in the 20th minute as an unchallenged Delon Lanferman directed his header wide of the right corner, after collecting a left-sided cross from Grenadian international Kithson Bain.
The ‘Hammer’ eventually grabbed the equaliser nine minutes onward in spectacular fashion as captain Daniel Wilson scored via a well-placed right-footed volley into the lower left hand corner, giving custodian Devon Charles no chance.
While Wilson’s finish must be applauded, the goal was orchestrated by the Grenadian who skipped past Shem Arthur on the left flank, before crossing the ball into the right side of the box for Lanferman, who
