A hat-trick of goals by diminutive striker Jessica Teasdale piloted the Diplomatic Team to a 6-3 victory over the Parliament Side in a feature football match played Tuesday evening at the Everest Cricket ground in observance of the 70th Anniversary of the Parliament of Guyana.
Teasdale, who is works at the Canadian High Commission, stamped her authority against her male counterparts scoring goals in the 11th, 21st and 33rd minutes of play as the Diplomats went of a 5-0 rampage in the first half.
Speaker of the National Assembly Manzoor Nadir, goalkeeper of the Parliament side was on the receiving end of the scoring spree when Edwin Martinez Gonsalves of the Mexican Embassy opened the scoring in the 6th minute before Rick Jan Molanus of the European Union scored the first of two goals in the 10th minute.
The Parliamentary Side captained by Guyana Football Federation President Wayne Forde and coached by National Coach Jamaal Shabazz could do very little to stop the rout and even a change of goalkeeper during the first half made very little impact. The Parliament Side made several changes at half time and looked better composed in the early stages of the half and were rewarded when Tafari David netted twice in the 38th and 46th minutes of play to reduce the deficit.
Molanus then scored his second goal of the match in the 52nd minute to give the Diplomats 6-2 lead and just before the final whistle Roberto Gibson scored for the Parliament Side to round off a festive and entertaining match witnessed by members of the National Assembly, diplomats and football enthusiasts.
Before the kick off the teams were met by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance Gail Texeira and EU Ambassador to Guyana Rene van Ness.
Prizes were awarded to the top performers including Teasdale and Molanus while all the players and officials received medals.
Nadir in brief remarks at the closing ceremony spoke about the collaboration between the Guyana Parliament and the Diplomatic Corp and thanked the participants and other stakeholders for making the event a success.
