Mission accomplished.
….as 10 man Connection hold on to beat Puerto Ricans.
By: Joel Villafana (ttproleague.com).[/size]
If anyone doubted the class of Vibe CT 105 W Connection, the 2006 Pro League runners up proved to all and sundry they are a quality unit, as they battled to defeat a top quality Puerto Rico Islanders team 1-0 to qualify for the semi-finals of the Caribbean Club Championships.
In front 4000 boisterous Puerto Rican fans at the national stadium in Bayamon, the Savonetta Boys absorbed enormous pressure to come away victors on the night thanks to a lone strike from Andre Toussaint in the 5th minute and a fantastic night’s work from national goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams.
The game started at a frantic pace with both teams fighting for dominance in the midfield, and it was the first real attack on goal that provided the lone goal of the match.
Toussaint was on spot to place the ball in the back of the net, after Ronaldo Viana and Earl Jean worked their way into the area, Jean released a powerful shot that was partially blocked by a defender, Toussaint was there and did the rest, Connection taking a 1-0 lead.
However, that was the last bit of goalmouth action that the boys from Couva saw for a while, as the Puerto Rican Islanders turned on the heat.
With some 5 players from Panama, two Mexicans, and T&T’s very own Leslie Fitzpatrick in their line up, they launched their attack in the 11th minute when Pettier Villegas made a good run down the flank caught the Connection defence napping squared the ball, but Yuri Morales shot wide.
Two minutes later it was Villegas again down the flank, this time his aerial cross was met by a powerful header from Mauricio Segovia but Jan Michael Williams read it well.
Unlike the game against the Antiguans, Williams had a busy night in goal for Connection and pulled off some vital saves to keep a clean sheet.
In the 15th minute he was again called into action when David Johnson let fly a shot from distance, but the Connection keeper was equal to the task.
The game was physical at times, especially in the middle of the park, and W Connection’s Andre Pacheco was booked in the 26th minute.
The Islanders kept coming, in minute 26 Byron Alvarez cracked a long range effort from about 25 yards out that just went wide, soon after another Connection player Christian Viveros went into the referee books.
It was raid after raid as Connection was made to absorb some serious pressure, on the half hour mark Alvarez worked his way into the area and had another good shot that just sailed over the bar.
The Connection defence had a rough night at the office, in the 33rd minute the Islanders had a left sided free kick, Jan Michael Williams came, did not collect cleanly, the ball was heading towards goal, but was cleared off the line by Elijah Joseph.
In the 39th minute, Jan Michael Williams had to make two quick saves with shots from Villegas and Segovia.
As the first half winded down, Connection had a couple rare attacks on the Puerto Rican goal – Toussaint found himself with some space in the 18 yard box, tried to catch the keeper off his line, but he got back well to pull off a save and keep the Puerto Ricans in the game.
Two minutes later skipper Earl Jean tried his luck from distance, but the goalkeeper did well to hold on.
Connection were not allowed to play their free flowing style, and was fortunate to be ahead 1-0 at the end of the half.
The second half saw the Trinidad and Tobago giants pull things together in the defensive third, however, their mettle was to be truly tested when right back Kern Cupid was given marching orders by the referee in the 54th minute, after a tackle from behind on Villegas, and Connection reduced to ten men.
In the 58th Villegas tried to make them pay, as he made a good run, cut inside and cracked a low drive that skidded wide of the Connection post.
Coach Stuart Charles Fervier made two changes, bringing on Silvio Spann for Ronaldo Viana and the young energetic Matthew Bartholomew replaced a tiring Earl Jean.
Spann used his experience in the middle and helped organize Connection defensively, and despite the Islanders continued to enjoy the majority of the possession, they were stopped most times from penetrating into the Connection area.
In the 80th minute Goulart found some room and sent a through ball to substitute Bartholomew, who worked his way around a defender, but his shot was weak and straight to the goalkeeper.
However, Jan Michael Williams work was not done for the night, he pulled off a brilliant save pushing a shot wide from second half substitute Gustavo Avilla in the 83rd.
With time running out, the Puerto Rican Islanders had a few last ditch efforts of goal, but Williams was equal to all, he saved a good header from Alejandro Gonzales in the 88th and in the dying minutes scrambled a another save with a scrimmage in the Connection area.
At the referee’s final whistle, the entire W Connection contingent celebrated a gutsy performance by their team, as they proved their character and dealt with everything the experienced Puerto Rico Islanders threw at them.
Toussaint’s early goal proved vital, as W Connection topped the group and will now move on to the semi-finals of the Caribbean club Championships at a date and venue still to be decided.
Teams.
W Connection:[/b] – Jan Michael Williams, William Oliviera, Kern Cupid, Elijah Joseph, Ronaldo Viana (Silvio Spann), Gefferson Goulart, Christopher Harvey, Andre Pacheco, Christian Viveros, Earl Jean (Matthew Bartholomew), Andre Toussaint.
Coach – Stuart Charles Fervier
Puerto Rico Islanders: – Terrence Boss, John Quelly, Marco Velez, Noah Delgado, Byron Alvarez, Petter Villegas, Leslie Fitzpatrick, David Johnson, Mauricio Segovia, Yuri Morales (Gustavo Avilla), Alejandro Gonzales.
Coach – Toribio Rojas
Match Referee – German Arredondo (Mexico)
W Connection vs Puerto Rico Islanders
1 Goals 0
2 Yellow cards 1
1 Red cards 0
18 Fouls 14
2 Offsides 1
2 Corners 11
3 Shots on target 13
