West Front Road-Gold is Money wins final rematch

A Deon Alfred 47th minute strike enabled West Front Road-Gold is Money to win the GT Beer/Keep Ya Five Alive Futsal tournament after they edged Future Stars 6-5 in the final rematch Saturday.

With less than a minute remaining in extra time interval at the National Gymnasium, Alfred secured the crown for the West Ruimveldt unit, thumping a left foot dagger into the lower right corner, from the left side of the field.

Gold is Money walked away with the championship trophy and $150,000, while the losers pocketed $50,000 and the respective accolade.

Alfred was adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the final while team-mate Hubert Pedro copped the Highest Goal Scorer award with 10 conversions.

Prior to Alfred’s heroics, Gold is Money raced into a 3-0 advantage in the first period as Alfred netted in the fifth minute, followed by a double from Randolph Wagner in the eighth and 11th minute.

However, Future Stars quickly regrouped and netted four answered goals to take a 4-3 lead entering the halftime interval.

Jamal Cozier started the comeback with a 13th minute strike before Keiron Solomon added a brace in the 15th and 17th minute while there was a 19th minute effort from Akeemo Anthony.

Upon the resumption, Future Stars increased their lead, with Solomon tallying his hat-trick compliments of a 23rd minute strike. Phillip Rowley, however, reduced the lead via a 33rd minute effort.

Nevertheless, the contest was pushed into the extra time realm as Wagner recorded his second goal of the night in the 38th minute.

The original final was abandoned by the match officials after the crowd invaded the playing area during the sudden death penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 score at the end of penalty kicks. The score at the end of regulation and extra time was 4-4.

Subsequently, the teams through their respective captains and the coordinator came to an agreement. The coordinator added $50,000 to the original prize monies of $750,000.