Another First Citizens Cup final for Connection after shutting out Jabloteh.
By: Mark Anthony Scott (ttproleague).
A fortuitous goal by W Connection defender Kern Cupid in the 25th minute proved to be the winner, as the 'Savonetta Boys' advanced to the final of the First Citizens Cup. Defending champions W Connection edged Jabloteh 2-1 in the second semifinal match-up at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium and would now meet Caledonia AIA the other finalist in a mouth watering contest next Friday.
W Connection are on route for their fourth straight First Citizens Cup title under head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier. But it was San Juan Jabloteh who began the match more purposeful and had the major share of possession in the opening moments, as W Connection soaked up the early pressure.
In the 11th minute Connection worked a promising forward movement after a neat exchange between former Jabloteh midfielder Aurtis Whitley and Kerron Smith, forcing defender Carlon Murray into a timely tackle as they closed in on goal.
W Connection started coming into their own and Whitley's impeccable vision created an opening in the 18th minute, as he bisected the Jabloteh defence to find Ronaldo Viana but goalkeeper Cleon John was quickly off his line to deny the Brazilian.
With 22 minutes gone, Connection struck the opening item when Viana played a neat pass to find the lanky Kerron Smith who calmly sidefooted the ball past an advancing goalkeeper John at his far post for the 1-0 advantage. But that goal only lasted two minutes as Gregory Geason rose superbly to head in a corner in the 24th minute past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip to level the scores at 1-1.
However, Jabloteh’s celebrations were shortlived as W Connection regained the advantage one minute later when an attempted cross by Kern Cupid took a wicked deflection off Julien Landeau chest and flew over goalkeeper Cleon John's head and into the net for a 2-1 score in favor of the ‘Savonnetta Boys’.
In the 33rd minute some poor marking almost gifted Jabloteh the equaliser, as Geason escaped the attention of the Connection defence from a corner but he placed his header over the goal.
At the end of an exciting first half, W Connection would go to the dressing rooms the happier, as they held a 2-1 lead. Jabloteh bought on Peter Byers and Atullah Guerra at the re-start and it almost paid off immediately.
Byers shot just inches wide on the turn from a corner in the some two minutes into the half. Jabloteh began to dominate as they went in search of an equalizer and Byers went close again as he drifted free from his marker but shot over from a tight angle in the 60th minute.
W Connection custodian Marvin Phillip saved well to deny Gregory Geason in the 72nd minute as the striker outran the defence and struck his shot for far post. Aurtis Whitley who was the target of some hard knocks by his former teammates almost made Jabloteh pay at the other end after he was played-in by a good ball from second half substitute Leslie Fitzpatrick, but the World Cup midfielder glanced his shot wide of the far post.
Jabloteh were camped in the Connection half for long periods and they had shouts for a penalty waved away by referee Gregory Hospidales after they had gone up for a corner. At the final whistle, W Connection in their second half defensive mode held on for 2-1 win and more importantly their place in the First Citizens Cup final on October 5 against a confident Caledonia AIA.
W Connection: — Marvin Phillip, Kern Cupid, Elijah Joseph (capt), Jose Luiz Seabra, Ronaldo Viana (Gerrard Williams 75th), Clyde Leon, Aurtis Whitley, Dwight Scott, Douglas Da Costa (Earl Jean 80th), Kerron Smith (Leslie Fitzpatrick 66th), Christian Viveros.
Coach—Stuart Charles-Fevrier.
San Juan Jabloteh: — Cleon John, Carlon Murray, Ian Gray, Cyd Gray, Julien Landeau, Trent Noel (capt), Khaleem Hyland (Jason Cudjoe 83rd), Lester Peltier (Peter Byers 46th), Gregory Geason, Elton John (Atullah Guerra 46th), Jason Marcano.
Coach—Terry Fenwick.
W Connection v San Juan Jabloteh
2 Goals 1
2 Shots on Target 2
2 Shots of Target 7
1 Corners 8
26 Fouls 20
1 Offsides 2
2 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 0
Stallions down Petrotrin to book place in First Citizens Cup final.
By: Gordon Pierre (ttproleague).[/size]
A goal on either side of the half was enough for Caledonia AIA to hand United Petrotrin a 2-0 defeat in the first match of the First Citizens Cup semifinals double header at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Friday. The ‘Stallions’ items came courtesy strikes by midfielders Marvin Oliver and Abdallah Phillip to secure their final spot in the 2007 First Citizens Cup.
The Jamaal Shabazz coached side is now for the first time in their history making their First Citizens final appearance, while the ‘Oilmen’ slipped on their chance. The big crowd on hand to watch the semifinal were still settling into the stadium when Trinidad and Tobago U-23 member Hayden Tinto signaled his team’s intensions with a shot from distance that had Petrotrin goalkeeper Tristan Charles scrambling to cover.
Caledonia grabbed early control of the game and enjoyed long periods of possession with beautiful passing football but failed to produce any real goal scoring opportunities up front.
In the 16th minute though defender Howard Lowe should have put his team ahead but he missed a clear cut chance after Marvin Oliver downward header from a Walter Moore free kick. The game continued in the same fashion with Caledonia dominating possession and the pace of the game but not creating anything in terms of goal scoring opportunities. Petrotrin had a chance in the 27th minute when midfielder Marlon Lewis against the run of play almost sneaked the ball past Caledonia goalie Richard Reynolds but the Guyanese international was just able to fist the ball away.
Reynolds had to be on the alert again to save a glancing header by Sylvester Teesdale from the resulting corner one minute later. Caledonia then took a deserved lead in the 38th minute when Marvin Oliver rose above the Petrotrin defence to head home a Walter Moore corner to enjoy a 1-0 lead. Caledonia continued to dominate the game with Petrotrin looking to hit on the counter attacks.
The Morvant based team should have doubled their lead in the 41st minute but Howard Lowe headed wide after Dexter Franklyn headed down a Conrad Smith corner into the area. Two minutes later Smith was guilty of letting Petrotrin off again when he missed a one on one with goalkeeper Tristan Charles after he somehow managed to turn the ball wide with goal and goalkeeper at his mercy. The score remained 1-0 in favor of the ‘Stallions’ at the half with coach Brian Williams’ men finding difficulties coping.
Petrotrin made what seemed to be a strange substitution replacing creative midfielder Keon Daniel after the interval with Al Sinclair.
In spite of the change Petrotrin started the second half the stronger team and launched some raids on the Caledonia goal but to no avail. Caledonia defenders Sheldon Emmanuel and Charles Pollard had to be alert on many occasions with the ‘Oilmen’ pushing desperately to level the scores. And while Petrotrin thought they had it easy to get even, Caledonia doubled their lead through Abdullah Phillip in the 80th minute after he tapped home a poor clearance by the Petrotrin defence.
Two minutes later Conrad Smith did the more difficult when he missed an open goal for the second time of the night. The match thinned out with a rush of action—first Hayden Tinto who was having a great game rounded the Petrotrin goalie Tristan Charles but put his shot into the side netting and then a strange call by referee Phillip Jordan saw the goalkeeper lose his cool and being sent off in the 90th minute. In the end Caledonia won the game fairly easily, securing their place in the final of the First Citizens Cup next Friday at the Mannie Ramjahn Stadium.
Caledonia: — Richard Reynolds, Sheldon Emmanuel (capt), Howard Lowe, Dexter Franklyn, Stephan David, Marvin Oliver (Randanfah Abu Bakr), Abdullah Phillip (Anthony Abrams), Charles Pollard, Walter Moore, Hayden Tinto, Conrad Smith (Carlyle Mitchell).
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz.
United Petrotrin: — Tristan Charles, Romauld Aguillera (capt), Larry Bacchus, Simeon Augustus, Devon Drayton, Kevon Clement, Keon Daniel (Al Sinclair), Marlon Lewis (Beville Joseph), Sylvester Teesdale, Andre Alexis (Jerrol Forbes), Kennedy Hinkson.
Coach—Brian Williams.
Caledonia v United Petrotrin
2 Goals 0
4 Shots 3
5 Corner 4
0 Offside 2
9 Fouls 11
2 Yellow Cards 2
0 Red Cards 1
