East London Central Local Football Association hosted the 2016 Noelmein Cup Last 16 knockout fixtures at the weekend at the North End stadium and it produced an avalanche of goals.
A total of 55 goals were scored in the eight matches played.
One saw a 9-1 trouncing of First Division outfit Central United by defending champions Riverside, including four predatory strikes by Riverside’s leading target man Sheldon Stevens.
Seagulls also ran riot against Saints, crushing their opponents 10-0, while a hat-trick by Shiloh talisman Ruhan Xundu inspired his side to a comfortable 8-2 victory against Napoli.
Pride of India thumped FC East London 7-0 and in the only all First Division cup tie Black Birds breezed into the quarterfinals courtesy of a 7-1 victory against Leeds United.
The biggest upset of the round, though, was First Division frontrunners Parkside United’s stunning 4-1 win on Sunday against Premier League outfit Atlantic Spurs.
The match was evenly balanced at 1-1 until United struck three goals in the last five minutes of the match to book their place in the quarterfinals.
Colin Jacobs found the back of the net twice. Needwill Hendricks and Lionel Stowman were the other United goalpoachers. It was a superb display by the youthful United side with Lutheran Faltein the star.
The crunch match of the round was on Sunday between Star of India and Swaraj. It was a repeat of the classic 2016 Easter tournament quarterfinal cup tie and Swaraj were desperate to avenge that defeat.
The gold and black outfit from Parkridge had Star of India on the backfoot in the first half with their guile and pace and it came as no surprise when Renaldo Joubert latched onto a loose ball inside the Star of India penalty area to nudge his side ahead.
Despite dominating possession in the opening stanza Swaraj squandered numerous goalscoring chances and it cost some resolute defending from Igshaam Vengadajellum and Lindsay Snyman to keep the marauding strike-force at bay.
Swaraj were made to rue those early chances when Stars midfield talisman Cuan Benny stepped into the spotlight in the 54th minute and delivered a glorious 25-metre thunderbolt free-kick that sailed past the Swaraj goalkeeper and into the back of the net for the equaliser.
As in their Easter quarterfinal clash the two sides could not be separated at the end and the match had to be decided via the dreaded penalty shootout. It was again heartbreak for the faithful when Swaraj defender Melvin King’s penalty kick hit the crossbar and Star of India defender Vusumzi Tokwe nailed his kick, which saw his side advance through to the quarterfinals.
Deluge of goals as the floodgates crack open
A total of 55 goals were scored in the eight matches played.
One saw a 9-1 trouncing of First Division outfit Central United by defending champions Riverside, including four predatory strikes by Riverside’s leading target man Sheldon Stevens.
Seagulls also ran riot against Saints, crushing their opponents 10-0, while a hat-trick by Shiloh talisman Ruhan Xundu inspired his side to a comfortable 8-2 victory against Napoli.
Pride of India thumped FC East London 7-0 and in the only all First Division cup tie Black Birds breezed into the quarterfinals courtesy of a 7-1 victory against Leeds United.
The biggest upset of the round, though, was First Division frontrunners Parkside United’s stunning 4-1 win on Sunday against Premier League outfit Atlantic Spurs.
The match was evenly balanced at 1-1 until United struck three goals in the last five minutes of the match to book their place in the quarterfinals.
Colin Jacobs found the back of the net twice. Needwill Hendricks and Lionel Stowman were the other United goalpoachers. It was a superb display by the youthful United side with Lutheran Faltein the star.
The crunch match of the round was on Sunday between Star of India and Swaraj. It was a repeat of the classic 2016 Easter tournament quarterfinal cup tie and Swaraj were desperate to avenge that defeat.
The gold and black outfit from Parkridge had Star of India on the backfoot in the first half with their guile and pace and it came as no surprise when Renaldo Joubert latched onto a loose ball inside the Star of India penalty area to nudge his side ahead.
Despite dominating possession in the opening stanza Swaraj squandered numerous goalscoring chances and it cost some resolute defending from Igshaam Vengadajellum and Lindsay Snyman to keep the marauding strike-force at bay.
Swaraj were made to rue those early chances when Stars midfield talisman Cuan Benny stepped into the spotlight in the 54th minute and delivered a glorious 25-metre thunderbolt free-kick that sailed past the Swaraj goalkeeper and into the back of the net for the equaliser.
As in their Easter quarterfinal clash the two sides could not be separated at the end and the match had to be decided via the dreaded penalty shootout. It was again heartbreak for the faithful when Swaraj defender Melvin King’s penalty kick hit the crossbar and Star of India defender Vusumzi Tokwe nailed his kick, which saw his side advance through to the quarterfinals.
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