On another pulsating night of action when the only sure reality is that winners advance, five more teams inked their names in that box when the inaugural June Madness Futsal championship, powered by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and Ansa McAL, continued at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
It was the continuation of the Round-of-32 with the two out-of-city teams (Ballers United of Berbice and Linden All Stars) making their presence felt in a heavy way.
Ballers United were clinical in their defeat of Kitty Hustlers whom they trounced 6-2. Their use of the yellow ball, which lasts for two minutes and once it scores the result is doubled, saw them becoming the first team to score twice with this ball.
Tierre Phillips sounded the early warning to the city side when he fired the Berbicians into the lead with only 18 seconds on the clock and this advantage was doubled by Ray Rodrigues in the third minute.
But Kitty Hustlers fought back to hit in back to back goals through Allistair Holder in the 12th minute and two minutes later from Wesley Greendige to knot the score.
As the minutes kept ticking away and both teams knowing the importance of a win, Ballers united it was that took the bold step to request the yellow ball.
It proved a success as Phillips drilled a shot past the Kitty Hustlers goalie to instantly double their goal tally from two to four in the 22nd minute.
The two minutes expired for the yellow ball and Kitty, took their chance by also requesting the yellow ball almost immediately after but it did not work in their favour.
It was Ballers United that scored again, this time it was off the boot of Rodrigues in the 26th minute, both Rodrigues and Phiilips credited with a hat-trick of goals each.
Linden All Stars continued their successful run after a come from behind 4-3 first round triumph over Show Stoppers via kicks from the penalty mark following a 3-3 regulation time and 4-4 extra time draw, to turn back the challenge of Albouystown Ballers, 4-1.
Unlike their first match when they only had five players and then four after a second yellow received by a player, they came with a full complement of players for this clash and tasted success once again.
Jeshawn Freeman led the way this time with a double, scoring in the 17th and 20th minute with one each from Malachi Todd (22nd) and Emmanuel Atkins in the 28th minute which formalised the win and sealed their Round-of-16 spot.
Albouystown Ballers got their lone goal from Joshua Samuels in the 11th minute.
North East made light work of West Side Ballers recording a 2-0 win, thanks to goals either side of play from Tyler Lyle in the 14th minute and Dwayne James in the 29th minute. Z Tekk needled Mocha Red Force compliments of David George’s 6th minute effort.
And, Festival City on the back of a brace each from Mark Carrega (4th, 5th) and Tyrese Louisy (17th, 19th) edged Make It Happen, 4-3.
For the losers, Deandre Linton had given them the lead in the first minute and then scored again in the eighth. Even an own goal scored by Festival City’s Jerome Permaul in the 14th minute could not have denied the lads from Festival city their glory on the night.
Meanwhile, a block-buster night of rivalry on Sunday (June 15) is anticipated with six matches listed.
Headlining the night would be the clash between National Futsal Champs Sparta Boss and North Ruimveldt with the main supporting clash between the Brazilian side Road Warriors and Footsteppers.
Road Warriors created quite a huge stir when they played in the national championship in December 2024 and January 2025.
Laing Avenue will play Bent Street in the fourth match of the night, Kingstown face Back Circle ‘A’ in match three, while Bomb Squad will tangle with YMCA in the second game and the opening showdown from 20:00h brings together Back Circle ‘B’ and Gaza Squad.
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