Latest update May 10th, 2024 12:59 AM
Dec 14, 2012 Sports
If what was witnessed on Wednesday evening is early indication of the excitement and quality that this year’s Banks Beer /Georgetown Football Association (GFA) Knockout Cup has in store for fans then obviously the place to be on Sunday is the world famous GCC ground when the tournament officially opens with a double header.
Playing in the preliminary phase of the competition to determine which two teams will advance to join the fourteen others that will compete in the Cup for prize money totalling in excess of $9million Kwakwani Strikers produced a dazzling come from behind performance to boot out the youthful Eagles United 3-2, before a fair-sized crowd, at the GFC ground.
They are now assured of a place in the ‘real’ competition, while another Region 10 team Botofago became the second team from the community to exit after suffering defeat at the hands of East Coast Demerara-based side Ann’s Grove All Stars by a 1-0 margin.
In the feature clash, the young and exciting Eagles United unit made up of a number of players that participated in the Digicel Schools Competition gradually found their rhythm after a slow start and placed the more experienced Kwakwani Strikers on the defensive through some enchanting mid-field play and threatening shots on goal.
They took the lead in the 33rd minute of play when Alistair Johnson fired in from a corner and that lead lasted to the break.
On the resumption, Eagles United continued to run own the Kwakwani backline, but missed chances were the order of the day and that they were made to rue in the 83rd minute when Norville Adrian netted his first of a brace.
Regulation time ended with both teams deadlocked at 1-1 and 30 minutes of extra time was the next step taken.
Six minutes after the start, Clive Nobrega gave Eagles United the ascendancy once again, but it was evident that the youngsters were tiring after their relentless assault against their much more seasoned counterparts who somehow managed to weather the onslaught and got the equaliser through Adrian in the 114th minute of play.
It was clear by now that the resilience of the Kwakwani Strikers team had taken its toll on the opposition and another lazy attempt to clear a corner only resulted in the ball landing at the feet of Joshawn Thom, who lashed in from close range sending their supporters into frenzy.
They held on for the next four minutes to advance to the main draw. Ann’s Grove made it to the next round of the preliminary phase after being led to victory by a solitary strike from Wayne Rogers in the 32nd minute in their enciunter with Botofago who fought courageously, but lacked the potency upfront to threaten the opposition backline.
The ‘real deal’ of the tournament commences this Sunday with the Opening Ceremony when all the teams are expected to be present and that will be followed by a double header involving Sunburst Camptown versus Houston Stars from 18:00 hrs and Fruta Conquerors opposing Flamingo at 20:00 hrs.
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