By Rawle Welch
Slingerz FC appearing in their first Georgetown Football Association (GFA) / Banks Beer Knockout Cup managed to survive an obstinate performance from Santos to register a close 3-2 win and in the process bloated their coffers by $4million as champions of this year’s tournament which ended late Wednesday night, at the
New GFA / Banks Beer KO Cup champions Slingerz FC pose for a photo op with the winning trophy shortly after defeating Santos 3-2 in the final on Wednesday night at the National Stadium.
National Stadium.
Played before a crowd estimated to be in the vicinity of 9,000, the feature clash provided a fitting climax to the tournament which is in its third year as both teams treated the fans to a gripping contest, trading goals in rapid succession until a moment of magic by the irrepressible Devon Millington in the dying moments of the game firmly established the final score line until the final whistle sounded.
The new champions reached the final after benefitting from an own goal in their semi-final encounter against Western Tigers and who many felt had played way below their best in difficult conditions needed to raise their level against a Santos team that had shown no fear for any of their opponents throughout the competition.
The West Demerara-based side coached by former national centre back Charles ‘Lily’ Pollard were quickly into their strides with the wily national left back Walter ‘Boyd’ Moore and Millington combining beautifully in some testing incursions deep into the Santos half.
Millington in particular was a thorn in the flesh of the Santos right back and it required capable defending from the experienced Jermaine Fraser supported by former national goalkeeper Richard Reynolds to keep Slingerz off the score sheet.
Millington a formidable striker with sleek footwork and plenty speed repeatedly worked over his markers that had the team’s supporters shouting with understandable optimism as they sensed a goal was near in coming.
It was a wonderful exhibition of football up to that point and it eventually resulted in the first goal of the game courtesy of the same combination of Moore and Millington.
It all started with Moore picking up possession in his half of the field and proceeded to weave his way past one tackle, before laying a pass to the lively Millington, who then evaded two flailing attempts to impede his forward propulsion, before firing low to beat Reynolds stationed on the near post in the 11th minute. It was a disappointing effort from the experienced goalkeeper.
Santos, who had looked unsettled and overawed by the occasion, hit back four minutes later through Christoff Wensly who ran on to a long ball delivered from inside their half trapped it neatly, before unleashing a powerful left-footer past the outstretched hands of Slingerz’s Ronson Williams to silence the opposition supporters.
Action in the clash between eventual champions Slingerz FC (in orange and black) and Santos at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
It was the perfect response by the labeled underdogs who by virtue of their previous performances were not to be underestimated.
The half came with the duel deadlocked at 1-1 and the large turnout braced themselves for a final period of intense rivalry.
Once again, Slingerz came out and showed menacing intent with Moore looking dangerous on the overlap, while Millington continued his torment of the Santos backline, but it was national striker Vurlon Mills, who had been kept relatively quiet up to then that, provided the goal of the game.
It resulted from a cross from the left flank that had some pace on it and the speedy striker eluded his marker and flew through the air to deliver a rapier-like header past an out of positioned and surprised Reynolds to give his team the lead after sixty-one minutes.
However, for the second time in the game, Santos’ riposte was quick and decisive as Wensly took full advantage of a mix-up between two Slingerz defenders as they contemplated whose responsibility it was to either leave the ball to go into touch or clear it and he cracked the two, before firing a left-foot shot into the far corner with Williams unmoved to level the proceedings again. It came in the 62nd minute of play.
That occurrence instead of deflating Slingerz seemed to ignite them as they went on a relentless hunt to regain the ascendancy that left Santos’s defence battered and bruised and hanging on for dear life, but to survive in that mode was always going to be a difficult ask, especially against the likes of Mills, Millington and the overlapping Moore and it proved true as Slingerz got the go ahead goal in the dying moments of the game, one minute before full time to be exact from Millington, who completed a brace which allowed them to claim the top prize and bragging rights for one year.
Santos for their efforts received $2.5 million and a trophy. In the third place playoff, the Tigers conjured up enough fortitude to beat the Guyana Defence Force 2-1. It was a solid result after missing out on a final berth due to an own goal in their semi-final engagement against eventual champions Slingerz.
On target for the winners were Hubert Pedro in the 21st minute and Rensford Coleridge in the 36th. The soldiers’ solitary strike came off the boots of Delroy Fraser, who netted in the 83rd.
The Tigers carted off $1.5 million, while the Army took home $1 million. The presentation of prizes will be done on a date to be announced. After the final, fans were entertained by Jamaica’s I-Octane, Mingles Sound Machine and other local artistes.