The final four who will vie for the inaugural One Guyana President’s Cup title have been decided after the final round of preliminary matches at the National Track and Field Facility, West Coast Demerara, on Monday.
Region Four will face Region Five in the first semi-final from 18:00h on Wednesday (December 28) followed by Region Three and Region Seven from 20:30h at the West Coast Demerara Facility.
It was all to play for on the final group day with Group B wide open as all of Region Three, Five, and 10 could have qualified.
Region Five, a core built with members of the Guyana Defence Force, smoldered Region Two 6-1, led by a second-half hat-trick from Abumchi Benjamin and supporting goals from Delroy Fraser and Marc Galloway.
Fraser struck the first in the 36th and Region Two responded six minutes later vial Shamar Dawson but since it was all the lads from Mahaica- Berbice.
Fraser added his second in the 55th followed by Marc Galloway in the 66th which set the stage for the Benjamin show.
Benjamin netted in the 78th, 89, and in the fourth minute of injury time to seal Region Five’s spot a two more wins to lift the trophy.
Later in the evening, it was heartbreak for the ENet-sponsored Region 10, as they drew with Region Three 2-2 in a must-win match.
Region 10 held the advantage with Shane Luckie (49th) and Jashawn Moore (54th) placing them comfortably ahead but as has been the case so often in the tournament, they succumbed to pressure and gave away the lead.
Roundel Hutson (73rd) and Kobi Alexander (81st) snatched the three points from Region 10 via the draw, and Region Three still managed to top the group on goal difference.
For each win in the group stage, teams will pocket $200,000. If the game ends in a draw, the teams will share the spoils.
In the semi-finals, a win is worth $400,000. The winning team will walk away with $2M.
Second place gets $1M.
