Superstar Rangers humble Jabloteh.
By: Ian Prescott (Express).[/size]
After taking a first half lead through midfielder Devon Modeste, the big question was whether Superstar Rangers could hold off San Juan Jabloteh, the T&T Pro League leaders, for an entire half.
The St Ann's-based Rangers team, eighth in the 10-team league, have not been able to do it for most of the season, conceding late goals, and losing in the final minutes of several matches.
But, in the face of adversity, Rangers found a way to upset the league leaders yesterday, winning by a comprehensive 4-0 margin at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Consolidating on Modeste's 45th minute goal, Rangers got three more in the second half from captain Errol McFarlane Jr (61st), Sayid Freitas (88th) and Abiola Clarence (90th).
The team who could not hold a lead, had scored twice in the final two minutes.
Worse yet, Rangers had some shuffling to do, compensating for the dismissal of Colombian defender Milton Gomez, by dropping striker Joseph "Ghouti" Peters back to central defence, to work along side veteran Don Morris.
There was also no Kerwin Jemmott, the national central midfielder having being sacked, along with Colombian keeper Jhony Ortiz Cardona, for breaching his contract by playing in a minor league tournament. Still, the makeshift Rangers team showed much character.
In the opening few minutes, McFarane only managed to find the side-netting with his shot, but perhaps it was an omen of things to come for Jabloteh.
For once, the league leaders were not allowed to play, relegated to the occasional long-range shot from Peter Byers, their Antiguan top-scorer, with a league-leading 14 goals, one more than McFarlane.
Byers did cause one moment of panic when his pass across goal was just missed by Jason Marcano, diving in at the far post. Eventually, on the stroke of half-time, Modeste put Rangers ahead. Taking the ball on the left flank, he angled a shot across the dive of keeper Cleon John.
Jabloteh came out chasing the equaliser in the second half, and did have a few half chances. But, while hunting the equaliser, they conceded goals. Rangers were awarded a penalty which McFarlane converted in the 61st, after he was clipped by the Rangers custodian, on his way to goal.
Terry Fenwick, Jabloteh's English coach, was having none of that. Fenwick put his team fully into attack, bring on Cornel Glen, the T&T World Cup striker, immediately after conceding a second goal. The boosted attack, for the first time put real pressure on the Rangers back-line. Byers looked to have scored when getting off a shot from six metres, but keeper Shane Mattis kept it out with a spectacular diving save.
Jabloteh's day was summed up when, after catching Rangers sleeping with a low corner-kick, Khaleem Highland's hard, low shot flew straight into the gut of the Rangers goalie. A few minutes later, Mattis brought off a similar stop from Atullah Guerra's effort.
With eight minutes to go, Modeste almost scored again when shooting across goal, but having his low strike deflected off the Jabloteh goalpost.
No matter, Rangers soon extended the advantage to 3-0 when substitutes Josimar Belgrave and Freitas combined to give the latter a tap-in on goal. And two minutes later, the speedy Clarence raced up the right and angled a low shot inside the far post, giving his team a fourth goal. It was the biggest defeat suffered by Jabloteh in the Pro League.
Superstar Rangers: — Shane Mattis, Ricardo Aleong (Sayid Freitas 85th), Arnold Ferguson, Don Morris, Tood Ryan, Marc Borde, Joseph Peters, Devon Modeste, Elijah Belgrave, Errol Mc Farlane (capt) (Abiola Clarence 73rd), Shem Mc Farlane (Josimar Belgrave 60th).
San Juan Jabloteh: — Cleon John, Ronald Primus (capt), Cyd Gray (Atullah Guerra 46th), Joel Russel, Khaleem Hyland, Devon Jamerson (Lester Peltier 16th), Trent Noel, Elton John, Peter Byers, Julien Landeau (Cornell Glen 65th), Jason Marcano.
Full Results
Defence Force 3 (Devon Jorsling 14, Richard Roy 89, Sherman Phillip 90) v Tobago United 2 (Garth Woodley 45, Collie Hercules 87).
Superstar Rangers 4 (Devon Modeste 45, Errol Mc Farlane 62-pen, Sayid Freitas 88, Abiola Clarence 89) v San Juan Jabloteh 0.
Joe Public 2 (Kayode Mc Kinnon 3, Gregory Richardson 17) v Police F.C. 1 (Dwight Elliot 41).