Eagles defeat Uitvlugt in blackout marred contest
Despite a power outage lasting approximately 90 minutes, Linden team Eagles FC and Den Amstel secured contrasting wins when the second annual Petra Organization/ Limacol football tournament continued Friday.
Eagles FC edged Uitvlugt 2-1 while Den Amstel downed Pouderoyen 2-0 in front of the largest crowd to date in the event at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.
The venue despite being built for several hundred millions, has no backup source of electricity and was blanketed in darkness seconds before end of the first period in the Uitvlugt and Eagles contest.
At the time of the stoppage, the fixture was locked at 1-1. The returning Trayon Bobb gave Uitvlugt the lead in the 17th minute, smashing his effort into the back of the net, after a right side cross evaded teammate Jamal Petty and fell into his path.
However, the youthful Linden unit recorded the equalizer in the form of Kelon Primo in the 39th minute, racing past the backline to latch onto a lobbed through pass, before finishing to the right side of the net.
Bobb had an opportunity to push Uitvlugt into the lead in the 55th minute, racing into the right side of the box unchallenged, only to fire his effort directly at the onrushing goalkeeper.
Nonetheless, Eagles sealed the comeback in the 69th as, Primo recorded his brace, rifling a powerful shot past the advancing goalkeeper from just inside the centre of the box.
Eagles earned three points from the encounter and Uitvlugt none.
In the other match Den Amstel humbled a dysfunctional Pouderoyen unit in the West Demerara derby.
The contest failed to live up to its billing as Pouderoyen rarely threatened the opposition defensive line due to a lackluster midfield.
Andre Hector should have given Den Amstel the lead in the ninth minute. Receiving a left side cross unchallenged inside the right of the box, he directed his first time effort wide of the lower right corner.
It was left to Gideon Payne to break the deadlock in the 29th minute. Racing onto a poor headed back pass from the final defender, Pope finished past advancing goalkeeper inside the centre of the area.
Hector made amends for his earlier miss to seal the contest in the 53rd minute. Pouncing on a loose ball between the two centrehalves, Hector dribbled the onrushing goalkeeper and slotted home into the left corner.
Den Amstel claimed three points while Pouderoyen remain pointless. Round two of the group stage will commence tomorrow at the Georgetown Football Club (GFC) ground, Bourda.
In the opening fixture at 18:30hrs, Winners Connection will oppose Northern Rangers while the Guyana Police Force (GPF) will engage Camptown at 20:30hrs.