Rangers trounce Tobago United.
By: Lasana Liburd (Express).[/size]
Superstar Rangers notched their second successive 2007 Pro League win yesterday evening with a comfortable 5-0 win over Tobago United at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
The result did not shift either team's place in the 10-team Pro League standing-Rangers and Tobago are eight and tenth respectively-but it did underline Rangers' record as one of the competition's best offensive outfits.
Conventional sporting wisdom suggests that goals win matches but defence wins trophies.
Rangers might have contemplated the irony of that cliché as they began yesterday's match with a Pro League-best 33 goals scored from 19 matches-five more than leaders Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA and one better than second placed CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh-but the League's leakiest defence with 31 goals conceded.
Tobago felt the brunt of the first statistic as Rangers stormed to a three goal lead within the first 31 minutes.
Striker Devon Modeste notched a rapid double in the 19th and 21st minutes while Marc Borde added a third with a crashing left foot volley off a cross from national playmaker Kerwin "Hardest" Jemmott.
Jemmott has only just returned to first team action after a month lay off with a shoulder injury and he could not have enjoyed a more comfortable return to action as Tobago, who only travelled with 15 players, failed to assert themselves collectively.
Shem McFarlane got their fourth, three minutes after the interval, with a low drive after an exchange of passes with his brother and team captain Errol McFarlane junior.
Errol McFarlane, the league's second top scorer with 13 items, should have had a fifth, ten minutes from time, but scoffed his shot from inside the six yard box after a shot-cum-cross from Borde passed tantalisingly close. However, Errol made amends in stoppage time with a neat headed finish from a left side cross.
Rangers will need to maintain their present momentum if they are to match last season's Big Six finish. Caledonia AIA, their next opponents, are unlikely to be as uncomplicated.
Teams:
Superstar Rangers:[/b] — Jhony Ortiz Cardona, Don Morris, Todd Ryan, Arnold Ferguson (Christon Thomas 83rd), Shem Mc Farlane (Josimar Belgrave 65th) Kerwin Jemmott (Ricardo Aleong 70th), Devon Modeste, Marc Borde, Milton Gomez, Elijah Belgrave, Errol Mc Farlane (capt).
Tobago United: — James Baird, George Dublin, Kevin Adams, Warren Phillips (capt), Marvin Phillips, Pierre Joseph, Julio Fernandez (Handell Manswell 55th), Garvin Mc Kenna, Collie Hurcules, Joel Harry, Garth Woodley (Lorenzo Weibers 65th).
Yesterday's Results:
Joe Public 4 (Lyndon Andrews 8, Michael Edwards 12-own goal, Gregory Richardson 36, Gary Glasgow 90) v Defence Force 2 (Lyndon Diaz 2-own goal, Ronald Boyce 82).
Superstar Rangers 5 (Devon Modeste 17, 19, Marc Borde 29, Shem Mc Farlane 48, Josimar Belgrave 90) v Tobago United 0.
San Juan Jabloteh 0 v W Connection 0.
United Petrotrin 4 (Sylvester Teesdale 32, 55, Keon Daniel 45, Romauld Aguillera 89) v Police F.C. 0.
