It was an evening of joy for Paradise and its Berbician counterpart Paradise Invaders after they defeated Victoria and Ann’s Grove respectively in the third 592 Beer ‘Skills for Cash’ seven-a-side football tournament Saturday.
Staged at the Victoria Community Centre ground, Paradise (East Coast Demerara) whipped the home side 4-1.
The contest started positively for host Victoria as Quason McAulay netted from the penalty spot from a rash challenge inside the area, firing his effort into the lower left corner.
The lead proved to be short-lived though, as four unanswered goals secured the come-from-behind win. Jermin Samuels fashioned the equalizer in the 16th minute, rifling a thunderous shot from 30 yards out in the centre of the field, which struck the underside of the crossbar and settled into the back of the net.
Anil Hernandez then got into the scoring act in the 25th minute, slotting his effort into the left corner after receiving a left-side pass inside the centre of penalty box.
Hernandez made his presence felt once more in the 44th minute to seal his double, dribbling his marker, racing into the right side of the 18 yard area and slamming his effort into the lower left corner.
The result was then completed in the 48th minute when Tyreek Cummings uncorked a powerful right-footed strike from the right of the box, which struck the bottom of the left upright and settled into the back of the net.
Ironically, Paradise Invaders crushed Ann’s Grove by a similar 4-1 margin.
Comparable to the aforementioned contest, it was the eventual losers who took the lead, when Alden Lawrence slotted past the goalkeeper in the sixth minute to hand Ann’s Grove the advantage.
Donovan Francis commenced the rout in the 10th minute, equalizing by slamming his effort into the right corner from inside the area. Francis netted the go-ahead goal in the 27th minute to secure his brace, racing into the left side of the box following a counterattack, before thumping a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.
A 3-1 score became a reality in the 40th minute for the Berbicians through Jamal Cambridge, who lashed his effort into the lower left corner, after receiving a left-sided cross unchallenged inside the box. Capello Daniels then completed the rout seven minutes later, firing a powerful right-footed shot down the centre of the net.
The event continues on Friday at the same venue with another round of matches. The winner of the event will pocket $300,000, with the second, third and fourth place finishers receiving $200,000, $100,000, and $50,000 respectively.
Complete Results
Game-1
Paradise Invaders (Berbice)-4 vs Ann’s Grove-1
Paradise Scorers
Donovan Francis-10th and 27th
Jamal Cambridge-40th
Capello Daniels-47th
Ann’s Grove Scorer
Alden Lawrence-6th
Game-2
Paradise (East Coast Demerara)-4 vs Victoria-1
Paradise Scorers
Anil Hernandez-25th and 44th
Jermin Samuels-16th
Tyreek Cummings-48th
Victoria Scorer
Quason McAulay-12th
