As the business end of the inaugural Kashif and Shanghai/One Guyana National Futsal Championship draws nigh, the much-anticipated Round-of-16 will kick off on Monday night at the National Gymnasium with four potentially explosive matches.
Gold is Money, who trounced Touches 6-0 on Saturday night, will face off with Back Circle ‘B’ who got past California Square 5-2. They will collide from 20:00h.
Next up will be Team Cruel and Albouystown Ballers, the two advanced because of wins over Paradise Invaders and Agricola Ballers. They will take center court from 21:00h.
One hour later, Bent Street and Stabroek ‘B’ will face off to advance to the quarter-finals with the final match of the night between the highly fancied Road Warriors from Region Nine and Ballers United.
On Saturday night fans witnessed some pulsating action in the eight matches that were served up. Two of the matches were brought forward owing to a citywide power outage on Thursday night.
Spaniards of Linden almost upset one of the well-known teams in the City- Bent Street- and it took a special strike off the boot of Colin Nelson, his second of the game, to separate the two sides and secure Bent Street’s place in the Round-of-16.
Jamaine Beckles had handed the early advantage to the victors in the fourth minute, with the Lindeners responding in like manner 10 minutes later through Tyric McAllister.
After the break, Spaniards jumped into the lead with a 21st minute goal from Jashawn Moore but one minute later, Nelson blasted in his first and the equaliser at 2-2.
It seemed like the game was heading to extra time but that was not to be as Nelson from some distance out fired past goalkeeper Norbert Sansculotte much to the delight of the Bent Street players and fans. It was the perfect end to an exhilarating Round-of-32.
But, the game of the night was the Road Warriors vs Victoria Eagles shindig which saw the Region Nine unit, which has displayed the best brand of futsal of all the teams to date, putting on a great show in their demolition of the Eagles, 8-3.
Road Warriors’ custodian from the start of the match played at will in the opponent’s half which showed little regard for the potency of the opposition.
This team has been the team to gain the most attention of the fans in their control and free-play style of futsal which is new to the seasoned teams in the city and elsewhere.
It will take some shrewd technical and tactical alterations by the other teams in their path in order to stop their march to the top prize of two million dollars.
Road Warriors were led by their captain Wendrecky Gois De Souza with a hat-trick in the third, seventh and 12th minute.
Matheus Monteiro De Souza tucked in a brace (13th and 21st) with one each from Daniel Alves (ninth), Jaleei Alcindor (29th), and an Own Goal in the 17th minute.
Victoria Eagles got their goals from Sherwin Skeete with a double (14th and 18th) and Inceford Charles in the 24th minute.
The tournament’s leading goal scorer, Beveney Marks of Back Circle ‘A’ was in destructive form in his team’s demolition of Vryheid’s Lust, 16-0.
Marks, who lashed in seven goals in their Round-of-64 match against Essequibo which they defeated 12-0 was again unstoppable.
He scored in the second, fifth, seventh, 15th, 24th, 25th, 27th, 28th, and 30th minutes.
Support, in the form of a hat-trick, came from Darren Benjamin (third, 22nd and 29th), a brace from Stephen Reynolds (24th and 26th) and one each from Cecil Jackman (first) and Stephan McLean (20th).
Results from the other matches on Saturday night: Back Circle ‘B’ beat California Square 5-2.
Team Cruel got the better of Paradise Invaders 6-4; Ballers United of Berbice edged North Ruimveldt 3-2 and Albouystown Ballers were better on the night against Agricola Ballers, 5-2.
Meanwhile, the second set of Round-of-16 matches will be played at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Christmas night.
