W Connection ease past Rangers.
By: Kern De Freitas (Express).
VIBE CT 105 W Connection had the perfect preparation match ahead of Friday's First Citizens Cup final when they ran past Superstar Rangers 4-2 in the T&T Pro League at the Hasely Crawford Stadium yesterday. The "Savonetta Boys" had four first half goals to cruise to victory, even after resting some of their key players ahead of Friday's final against League leaders Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, who crashed to a 2-0 defeat away to Joe Public at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya.
Connection dominated the opening period and took the lead in the 17th. The Rangers defence's attempted clearance of Andre Toussaint's shot fell perfectly for Kerron Smith, who volleyed powerfully past Shane Mattis.
In 40 minutes Connection had tripled the lead and put the match out of Rangers reach. Jonathan Farias pounced on another missed clearance from a corner kick that landed in his path, slotting the ball through the legs of the onrushing Mattis in the 35th, then Hughton Hector added his name to the scoresheet and it was 3-0 to Connection in the 37th.
But even as Rangers responded from the penalty spot via Josimar Belgrave in the 40th, Connection added the fourth less than two minutes later. Toussaint, given ample time and space, latched onto a long ball and, with the Rangers defence askew, rounded Mattis before tapping home. The only goal of the second period went Rangers way, as Belgrave, in a one-on-one with Connection custodian Marvin Phillip, calmly slotted home low to Phillip's left.
W Connection: — Marvin Phillip, Kern Cupid, Clyde Leon (capt), Gefferson Goulart, Nickcolson Thomas, Milton Gomez, Hughtun Hector, Douglas Da Costa, Kerron Smith (Jonathan Farias), Christian Viveros (Leslie Fitzpatrick), Andre Toussaint.
Superstar Rangers: — Shane Mattis, Christon Thomas (Corneal Thomas), Marvin James, Arnold Ferguson, Dean Pacheco, Ricardo Aleong (Josimar Belgrave), Devon Modeste (Abiola Clarence), Marc Borde, Joseph Peters, Sayid Freitas, Elijah Belgrave.
Full Pro League Results.
Joe Public 2 (Gregory Richardson 21, 55) v Caledonia AIA 0
Superstar Rangers 2 (Josimar Belgrave 42-pen, 82) v W Connection 4 (Kerron Smith 20, Jonathan Farias 35, Hughton Hector 40, Andre Toussaint 45)
Defence Force 1 (Devon Jorsling 53) v San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Lester Peltier 22, Elton John 90)
United Petrotrin 2 (Sylvester Teesdale 30, 70) v North East Stars 3 (Larry Bacchus 3 own-goal, Glenton Wolfe 58, Kendall Velox 85)
Police F.C. 0 v Tobago United 0
Monday's Reserve League Results.
Police FC 0 v Caledonia AIA 2 (Kerry Daniel 35th, Carlyle Mitchell 75th)
Superstar Rangers 3 (Clevan McPhie 27th, Christon Thomas 57th, 90th) v United Petrotrin 1 (Vurlon Mills 47th)
Defence Force 3 v North East Stars 0 (default)
Joe Public 1 (Kendall Davis 55th) v San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Peter Byers 21st, 26th)
Reserve League Standings
P W D L GF GA GD PTS
W Connection - 22 13 4 5 56 28 28 43
Caledonia AIA - 23 11 3 8 45 35 10 39
United Petrotrin - 22 11 3 8 44 30 14 36
Superstar Rangers - 22 11 3 8 45 42 3 36
San Juan Jabloteh 23 9 7 7 36 28 8 34
Joe Public - 22 9 2 11 36 35 1 29
Defence Force - 22 8 5 9 29 33 -4 29
Police F.C. - 22 6 3 13 28 51 -23 21
North East Stars - 22 3 6 13 29 66 -37 15
