West Front Road, more popularly known as Gold is Money, produced arguably the match of their lives to obliterate favourites Sparta Boss and win their first title at the Guinness Greatest of the Street National Football championships.
Staged at the National Stadium, Providence for the first time in its nine-year existence, Gold is Money thrilled the appreciable gathering of spectators into the wee hours of Sunday by inflicting four unanswered goals into Sparta Boss.
Sparta, a two-time national champion, were left in awe with the tenacity Deon Alfred brought to the match, being a play-maker and goal-scorer; he had three on target to secure the $500,000 winners purse for his team.
The talented player scored in the 33rd minute and added a Guinness Goal (counts as two in the final two minutes of regulation time) in the 38th, while seasoned campaigner Randolph Wagner opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for his side, who has also won the Georgetown title.
Though a cross section of the audience were cheering for Sparta, they accepted the undeniable conclusion that Gold is Money were the only team who turned up hungry to win the title. Sparta took home $250,000.
In the third place match, two Linden sides collided and Silver Bullets edged 2017 national champions Dave and Celina’s All-Stars 2-1. Damion Williams (5th) and Jermaine Samuels (6th) scored for Bullets, while Orlonzo Thurman brought some respect to the former champs in the 15th.
Bullets took home $200,000 and Dave and Celina’s half that amount.
The semi-finals saw Gold is Money hammering Bullets 7-0 on back of another splendid performance from Alfred, who had a hat-trick, while goals also came from brothers Jamal Pedro and Hubert Pedro.
Sparta defeated All-Stars 4-2 with goals from Gregory Richardson, Eusi Philips and Cleon Forrester, while the opposition had Tyric McAllister and Rudy Halley on the mark.
The national championship was contested on three days with 16 teams coming from Georgetown, Linden, Bartica, East Bank/West Demerara, East Coast Demerara and Berbice.
