Goals, goals, and more goals was the order of the night when the LIME Pelican Football Challenge continued on Thursday night at the National Stadium.
Patrons weren’t only treated to a goal fest though; with 10 goals being scored in the night’s two games, they also witnessed two upsets, as both Bajan Pride and Nu Look 360 Connection’s unbeaten runs came to an end.
In the evening’s first game, T.S. Strikers completely dominated Zone A leaders Bajan Pride, trouncing them 4-1, while Emmerson Boyce 5th Avenue Bajan Elite just managed to hold off 360 Connection in the dying stages to come away with a 3-2 victory.
After coasting to three straight victories, Bajan Pride, considered one of the pre-tournament favourites, would have been highly favoured to get past the Christ Church-based T.S. Strikers.
But within 20 minutes of the opening kickoff they found themselves trailing 3-0.
Ramar Miller started the ball rolling for T.S. Strikers in just the fifth minute when he majestically rose above the defence to powerfully head the ball from a corner kick past custodian Jamar Harewood.
Six minutes later, they doubled their lead courtesy of some beautiful skill from Jamal Chandler.
He collected the ball inside the penalty area, faked his marker, causing him to slide on the damp outfield, before unleashing a powerful right-foot shot into the near corner and past a diving Harewood.
Emotions began to boil over in the Bajan Pride camp, and Kimar Griffith was shown a yellow card after needlessly shoving Chandler to the ground.
It proved to be a costly error as Rico “Sas” Baptiste then made it 3-0 in the 16th minute from the resulting free kick, as his shot from 30 yards out rolled all along the turf, evading the wall and a diving effort from a flat-footed Harewood.
Jomo Harewood finally gave Bajan Pride fans something to shout about when he got in behind the defence, but T.S. Strikers’ custodian Omari Eastmond made a good diving save.
The match was effectively over in the 41st minute, when Jabarry Chandler grabbed his second goal of the match, easily tapping home from close range after Andre Daniel’s ferocious long range effort had ricocheted off the crossbar.
Then to put an exclamation mark on a horrid showing, Bajan Pride’s Carlo Perry was sent off for a reckless tackle on Renaldo Bailey on the stroke of half-time.
Jomo Harewood pulled one back for Bajan Pride in the 81st minute, but it was a case of too little too late.
Identically to T.S. Strikers, Bajan Elite also opened the scoring in the fifth minute, as Jeffrey Williams’ thunderous shot from inside the area left goalkeeper Albert Brathwaite with no chance.
Goals from Riviere Williams (45th) and Romario Harewood in the 55th minute made it 3-0 but 360 Connection struck back through goals from Kyle Gibson (61st minute), and Dwayne Stanford (90th).
