Turbo Energy Drink Football Camptown upended in thrilling sudden death by GFC
A new champion will be crowned in the Turbo Energy Drink Football Championship, as holder Camptown lost 8-7 on sudden death penalty kicks to Georgetown Football Club [GFC] yesterday at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue.
Locked 2-2 at the end of the regulation and extra time intervals, both teams were unable to be separated, as the initial round ended 5-5. The contest continued in the same vein in the sudden death realm, as both teams scored consecutive attempts to take the score to 7-7. GFC maintained their streak from the mark to take an 8-7 lead. Needing to convert to keep their hopes alive of progression to the next round, Camptown sealed their own exit, as their eighth attempt was denied the goal-keeper.
Prior to the dramatic conclusion, the Bourda based GFC unit took the lead in the 21st minute, as Lavaughn Ennis slotted into the back of the net, after racing onto a through pass.
However, the Campbellville unit would equalise in the 33rd minute through Adrian Aaron, who uncorked a powerful flat strike into the lower left corner, after receiving a pass from Devon Forde inside the right of the penalty box.
With the score remaining unchanged heading into the halftime interval, Camptown snatched the unlikely lead in the 82nd minute, as Jamal Codrington found the back of the net from a penalty kick.
The spot-kick was awarded following a hand-ball infraction, with the forward thumping his strike into the lower left corner.
It was his second attempt from the mark, after the GFC custodian was penalized for illegally leaving the goal-line before the ball was struck, in the process saving the effort. Eion Abel [left], of Mahaica Determinators attempting to challenge Pouderoyen’s Kayode King at the Ministry of Education ground, Carifesta Avenue in the Turbo Energy Drink Football Championship
However, GFC forced the matchup into the extra time realm, as Ennis made his presence felt once more in the 86th minute.
It was a timely strike from the ever improving Ennis, who bundled the ball into the back of the net, after racing ahead of his marker to latch onto a right sided cross inside the centre of the six yard area.
Meanwhile, Mahaica Determinators edged Pouderoyen FC 1-0. A 111th minute strike sealed the outcome for the East Coast Demerara outfit, after regulation time ended scoreless. [Goal.com]-Alex Mendez scored twice to hand the U.S. U-20 national team a 2-0 win over Mexico in Wednesday’s CONCACAF Championships.
The Freiburg midfielder has been turning heads all tournament and put in another classy display against El Tri in the final, netting once in either half to lead his side to victory.
The U.S. carried much of the early play and did well to limited chances for Mexico before breaking the deadlock in the 16th minute.
Paxton Pomykal’s winding run down the left saw the FC Dallas youngster drift into the box where he picked out Mendez at the top of the area. The18-yearold slammed home a first-time finish, slotting the ball into the lower corner to put the U.S. out in front.
The match took on the feel of a rivalry clash for much of the rest of the first half, with neither side backing out of challenges and play getting chippy at times, but it headed to the break with the USA still clinging to a narrow lead. The USMNT would open things up five minutes after the re-start. Pomykal was once against the catalyst, breaking down the left and cutting inside once again before picking out Mendez.
Rather than fire first time the midfielder returned the ball to Pomykal and the two completed a slick interchange before Mendez slotted home with his left foot. Printed and published daily by Guyana Publications Inc 46/47 Robb Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. Tel 226-7206, 226-2333, 227-4080, 226-2515. Fax: 225-4637