Buxton United win on sudden death penalty

23rd Kashif &Shanghai Football Tournament…

Buxton United crowned a dream run in the 23rd annual Kashif and Shanghai tournament with an exciting win over Amelia’s Ward United in the final on Tuesday evening at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.
After a goalless 90 minutes and extra time, the teams were again level at four-all after the mandatory five penalties, forcing the game into sudden death.
In the third place playoff, Alpha United, who suffered an upset defeat to the eventual champions at the semi-final stage on the 29th December, defeated fellow city side Pele 3-1.
The eventual finalists, dubbed ‘Giant Slayers’ by this publication, had booted the two favourites from the competition – Amelia’s Ward United went past Pele in the semi-final as well, and an exciting championship game was in the making.
The game had all the ingredients of a Gy$ 4 million, as both teams’ defences ensured that the score remained nil-all after the 90 minutes regulation time and 30 minutes extra time.
Cheered on by their respective fan base that thronged to Guyana’s premier sports facility, both teams went after each other with the confidence and bravery they showcased against their more illustrious counterparts last weekend.

As the game progressed, the fair-sized crowd was kept on the edge of their seats, as both teams struggled to find an opening to surge ahead in regulation time. Extra time was much of the same, as the score remained nil-all.
With penalties being called in to separate the teams, both missed one shot each, forcing officials to decide the outcome via sudden death. With the margin for error extremely thin in the dying stages of the game, Keoma Sullivan took the first shot for Buxton United, and duly converted, sparking wild celebrations among their section of supporters.
With the pressure of being a goal down clearly visible on the faces of the Amelia’s Ward United players, Marlon Simon took to the firing line, and like Sullivan, he netted to level the scores.
Robin Phillips then took Buxton into the lead when he converted before Javin Crawford’s shot beat the advancing Buxton United’s goalkeeper, but the ball slammed into the left goal post.
As Crawford and his teammates looked on in dismay, Buxton United’s supporters invaded the outfield to celebrate victory with their heroes, who were later presented with the cash incentive and winner’s trophy for their 6-5 win on penalties.
The night became even sweeter for Buxton United’s skipper, Dwain Jacobs, who was presented with the keys to a brand new Toyota Allex motor car as his prize for being the Most Valuable Player.
Earlier, Dwight Peters netted a double in the 50th and 74th minutes and Kithson Bain added a goal in the 39th minute to spur Alpha United to a 3-1 win over Pele, whose consolation goal came from Gregory Richardson on the stroke of half-time.
Before the final, members of Buxton United and Amelia’s Ward United were introduced to directors of the Kashif and Shanghai Organisation, Kashif Muhammad and Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony, Junior Finance Minister Juan Edghill, acting President of the Guyana Football Federation, Franklin Wilson and Demerara Distillers Limited Sales Executive, Alexis Langhorne.
After the final, fans were entertained by Jamaican dancehall artiste, Mavado.