G Madrid and their band of supporters from Biche were in their glee on Saturday, deservedly crowned champions of the 2015 Caribbean Welders 9-a-side Big 8 Football Tournament in what turned out to be a lopsided final at the Fishing Pond Recreation Ground.
Gremio collected $8,000 for their second place finish while Fishing Pond Revival received $5,000 after beating Dream Team (4,000) on penalties 3-2 in the earlier third place play-off which ended 1-1 at regulation time.
The final, which attracted a huge crowd, failed to live up to the hype in the first half as both team struggled to create goal scoring chances, perhaps hesitant of committing too much in attack as the half ended goalless.
G Madrid started the second period putting their opponents under sustained pressure as Gremio were forced to concede a proliferation of free-kicks and corners.
Deron Lewis provided the first warning, flicking up a low pass from a rampaging Alec Ali on the right flank and attempting a left-footed volley which was blocked.
Star midfielder Keron James, often the instigator of their attacks, sent in a dangerous free-kick into the area soon after that Gremio goalie Steffon Alvarez was forced to punch to safety.
Another cross from the left found its way to Ali on top the box but his right-footed shot was charged down and deflected for a corner. Smelling blood, G Madrid packed the box and James’ corner found the head of defender Marvin Gooding who rose highest and butted the ball down into the ground and into the goal. It was the chink that would destroy the Gremio armour as their backline began to crack. A few minutes later, Gremio conceded a penalty for a foul on substitute Erasto Flores.
MVP Deron Lewis calmly stepped up and slotted the ball to the ‘keeper’s left to double the lead. G Madrid should have made it 3-0 as James setup Lewis with a low freekick from the right but the striker missed the ball entirely from two yards out.
It did not matter though as Flores’ expert movement saw him slipped through on goal down the right channel and as he shaped to curl the ball in with his left, changed his mind at the last moment and squared to Maurice Billy at the far post for the simple tapin.
Gremio were in disarray and a poor back pass from Kendon Sutton gave Billy the chance to score his team’s fourth but his right-footer cannoned off the bar and his follow-up volley went wide.
G Madrid lost their discipline towards the end, going down to seven men after two red cards for silly fouls and verbal abuse to the referee but it did not take the gloss off a superb performance.
As the full time whistle sounded they received their gold medals and the Challenge Trophy, shouting proudly “G Madrid, forty (thousand)!” League organiser Prakash Ramkissoon thanked all the sponsors for another successful staging of the competition including title sponsor Caribbean Welders and its Managing Director Peter Park.
Other sponsors he praised profusely were Edward “Eddie” Mark, Singer Home Centre (Jody Cox), Top of the Line Liquor & Meat Mart, Richard Alignment and Diagnostic, Benji Bakery and Dr Rupert Griffith.
Fishing Pond Honour Roll Big 8: 1. G Madrid, 2. Gremio, 3. Fishing Pond Revival, 4. Dream Team.
MVP: Deron Lewis ( G Madrid) Most Goals: Deron Lewis (G Madrid) Most Goals (Team): Fishing Pond Revival Most Disciplined Team: Fishing Pond Youths Best Goalkeeper: Aaron Ali (G Madrid) Best Defender: Shaquille Enil (Fishing Pond Revival) Best Goal: Justin Fournillier (Take That and Cool It) League champion/Raffie “Morock” Mohammed Trophy: Take That and Cool It Best Manager: Kennon Walcott (G Madrid) Spectator Award: Carlton.