Region #4 won the inaugural ‘One Guyana President’s Cup’ Football Championship, overcoming a 0-1 deficit to prevail by a 2-1 score-line over Region #3 on Sunday evening at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
Witnessed by a large crowd, it was the hosts who seized the initial lead in the 13th-minute compliments of a Leo Lovell conversion. Receiving the ball just inside the left of the penalty box, Lovell uncorked a curling right-footed strike which settled into the right corner, beyond the reach of custodian Akel Clarke.
The score remained unchanged heading into the halftime interval. However, the second half started poorly for the hosts, as Kobe Alexander was issued with a red card in the 55th minute, forcing his side to play the remainder of the contest with 10 men. The numerical handicap incurred by the hosts eventually took its toll as Region #4 seized control of the contest following two goals in the space of three minutes.
The equaliser came in the form of Daniel Wilson in the 73rd minute. The conversion emanated from a right-footed free-kick 26 yards from goal outside the left of the penalty area, as Wilson curled his effort into the lower left corner.
The go-ahead winner was crafted in the 76th minute, as Kelsey Benjamin found the back of the net. Racing into the left of the penalty area, Benjamin, who finished as the event’s joint top scorer with 10 conversions, slotted into the roof of the net, after latching onto a flat cross from the right side of the field.
Due to the win, Region #4 walked away with $2,000,000 and the championship trophy, with the loser pocketing $1,000,000. On the individual side, Lovell was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament and walked away with a house lot, ending the event with six goals. On the other hand, the Highest Goal Scorer accolade of a Honda XR 150CC Motorcycle is yet to be determined, as Kesey Benjamin, and his name same Abumchi Benjamin ended with 10 goals apiece. Meanwhile, Region #5 defeated Region #7 6-3 in the third-place playoff. Abumchi Benjamin tallied a hat-trick in the seventh, 30th, and 66th minute, whilst Delroy Fraser, Marc Galloway, and Olvis Mitchell scored in the 54th, 58th, and 88th minute respectively. For the loser, Andrew Simmons bagged a double in the 11th and 36th minute, whilst Whitney Welcome found the back of the net in the 90th+3 minute.
Region #4 scorers Daniel Wilson and Kelsey Benjamin
Region #5 scorers Delroy Fraser, Olvis Mitchell, Abumchi Benjamin, and Marc Galloway
Region #3 captain Leo Lovell who was adjudged the event’s MVP shaking hands with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr in the presence of Prime Minister Mark Phillips and GFF President Wayne Forde
Complete Results
Final
Region #4 – 2 vs Region #3 – 1
Region #4 scorers
Daniel Wilson – 73rd
Kelsey Benjamin – 76th
Region #3 scorer
Leo Lovell – 13th 3rd Place
Region #5 – 6 vs Region #7 – 3
Region #5 scorers
Abumchi Benjamin – 7th, 30th and 66th
Delroy Fraser – 54th
Marc Galloway – 58th
Olvis Mitchell – 88th
Region #7 scorers
Andrew Simmons – 11th and 36th
Whitney Welcome – 90th+3
Delroy Fraser3
GFF3
Daniel Wilson3
