Ten-man Connection survives a Caledonia scare.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague).[/size]
Second half substitute George Isaac produced a late equalizer as W Connection managed a comeback against Caledonia AIA for a 1-1 finish in the first round of the Lucozade Sport Big Six competition at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.
It was Caledonia AIA who held the advantage heading towards the final whistle with prolific Guyanese striker Nigel Codrington scoring the first item of the match, only to see Isaac nullify the score.
As expected the encounter was action packed and it was the Morvant based team who had the first bite of the cherry.
Striker Nigel Codrington threatened from as early as the 4th minute with a shot from 20 yards out, but it flew wide of the Connection far post.
W Connection replied with Ronaldo Viana’s 26-yard free kick, which slammed off the upright, and into play after defender Leslie Holligan fouled Andre Toussaint in the 11th minute.
William Da Silva Oliveira had another free kick in the 16th minute and forced a low save by goalkeeper Jhonny Cardona with his effort.
The game heated up and Caledonia got closer to opening their account, in the 21st minute it was Codrington again in the mix. He did well to meet Shawn Bishop’s 30 yard cross but his header was off target.
Codrington was at it again 4 minutes later, and kept Connection goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams busy, he tried a shot from distance but his effort was well pushed wide by the Connection custodian.
The Guyanese striker was on target again in the 29th minute when he did well to control goalkeeper Cardona’s long clearance and easily held off defender Elijah Joseph to have a shot on target but the effort was once again well received by Williams in the Connection goal.
Technical Director Jamaal Shabazz then had to make an early substitution when Connection striker Andre Toussaint appeared to accidentally elbow Caledonia’s defender Leslie Holligan—and he had to be replaced by Kareem Joseph.
Abdullah Phillips then earned his team a free kick just outside the 18 yard box and Guyanese midfielder Shawn Bishop struck it well but goal keeper Williams made it look simple as he held on to the shot in the 42nd minute.
The ‘Savonnetta Boys’ had a positive build up in the 45th with Nickolson Thomas, he sent across a well floated pass but striker Andre Toussaint headed over bar from inside the penalty area.
As frustrations ran high with both teams looking for the opening goal, star players Densil Theobald of Caledonia and Gefferson Goulart of W Connection both received yellow cards in injury time of the first half.
Both teams began the second half showing the same fierceness as the previous period with strong tackles.
In the 47th minute W Connection’s Toussaint and Ronaldo Viana both missed out on an open goal when their shots on goal was denied by the backs of the Caledonia defence.
Soon afterwards Caledonia’s Nigel Codrington’s shot suffered the same fate when on the counter attack his right footed effort struck the back of Christopher Harvey on the way to goal.
Caldeonia’s World Cup playmaker Densill Theobald then had an 18-yard rocket of a shot cleared on its way to goal by defender Elijah Joseph.
Four minutes later in the 58th minute Theobald then returned the favor to Nigel Pierre but he flicked his effort wide of goalkeeper Williams upright.
Connection then replied one minute later with Captain Earl Jean having an 18-yard shot but his effort was well handled by goalkeeper Cardona.
The ‘Savonnetta Boys’ continued to try and capitalize from free kicks and in the 63rd minute goalkeeper Cardona easily held on to Brazilian’s William Oliveira’s free kick.
Caledonia then got the first goal of the match in the 70th minute, Guyanese striker Nigel Codrington easily slipped past the Connection back line and shot past the hands of oncoming goalkeeper Williams for a 1-0 Caledonia advantage.
With a goal desperately needed coach Stuart Charles Fervier replaced one of his Brazilian playmakers Gefferson Goulart with Brenton DeLeon in the 73rd minute.
On the other side—Technical Director Jamal Shabazz replaced goal scorer Codrington in the 81st minute with the fresh pair of legs in Kendall Jagdeosingh.
And two minutes later things got worse for Coach Fervier as his team went short of a player. Colombian Christian Viveros received his second booking for a challenge on substitute Jagdeosingh and had to leave his teammates a goal and a man down.
The Connection coach then made a couple of changes and substituted Andre Pacheco and Andre Toussaint with Hughton Hector and George Isaac in the 83rd minute.
Substitute Hector raced down the right side to have a 20-yard shot at goal but saw his effort fly high.
Soon afterwards Caledonia substitute Conrad Smith received a yellow card for a harsh tackle on Hector.
But with time running out substitute George Isaac headed past goalkeeper Cardona to tie things up and relieved the entire Connection bench and coach Fervier. The gripping encounter finishing 1-1 and each team taking away one point.
Caledonia AIA: – Jhonny Ortiz Cardona, Sterling Arjoon, Julio Ceasar De La Rosa, Leslie Holligan (Kareem Joseph 35th), Uz Taylor, Stephen David, Shawn Bishop, Abdallah Phillips, Densill Theobald, Nigel Codrington (Kendall Jagdeosingh 81st) Nigel Pierre (Conrad Smith 69th).
Goal scorer--Nigel Codrington -70th
Technical Director – Jamal Shabazz
Vibe CT 105 W Connection: – Jan Michael Williams, William Da Silva Oliveira, Gefferson Goulart (Brenton DeLeon 73rd), Christopher Harvey, Andrei Pacheco (Hughton Hector 83rd), Nickcolson Thomas, Christian Viveros, Elijah Joseph, Ronaldo Viana, Earl Jean (capt), Andre Toussaint (George Isaac 83rd).
Goal scorer--George Isaac-90th
Technical Director – Stuart Charles Fervier
Match Referee-- Lee Davis
Caledonia AIA v W Connection
1 Goals 1
7 Shots on Target 8
5 Corners 4
1 Offsides 3
4 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 1
25 Fouls 17
