Local All-Stars defeats FC Dallas.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague).TT Pro League Local All-Stars produced an outstanding performance against Major League Soccer club FC Dallas on Sunday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in their final match of the Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup.
But despite the win, FC Dallas were the ones running away with the winner’s trophy having won on points in the home teams vs away teams rules.
Their partner Clube Atletico Paranaense won the first match of the double header at the Port of Spain venue 4-1 against the TT Pro League Foreign All-Stars and adding to their first day victories last Friday both on penalties, the foreign clubs had the better of points.
All credit to the Pro League players their 1-0 win over the MLS club was a well worked one which featured the ‘man of the moment’ Neil ‘Shaka’ Hislop featuring for both FCD and LAS in what was a memorable experience for all present.
It was the last match the former Trinidad and Tobago goalie played for his last registered club FC Dallas.
Shaka showed he still had what it takes pulling off a couple of back to back saves while in goal for Local All-Stars.
But not only did fans experience a historic moment, they also enjoyed a very exciting match which their local guys won.
It was all action from the first whistle blown by referee Phillip Jordan.
In the 7th minute Devon Jorsling had two good opportunities his way, but one ended in a tame shot on target and the other just wide.
One minute later FC Dallas’ Dominic Oduro headed just wide after a bit of fancy footwork by Brazilian midfielder Denilson and cross by Martin Pautasso.
And a further minute Andre Toussaint wasted a cheeky Marvin Oliver cross allowing the defender to poke it out before having a go at goal from inside the area.
In the 17th minute from on the left, Denilson had a go at goal after Thompson had won a free kick but the Brazilian’s effort was easily handled by goalkeeper Cleon John.
Two minutes later on the other end Jorsling missed from inside the six yard area spilling a good cross by Andre Toussaint in a play created by Marvin Oliver.
The Americans also had their share of attacks but none as close as Jorsling’s missed opportunities.
Hayden Tinto pulled out a good save by goalkeeper Ray Burse Jr. who guided it out after latching on to a Trent Noel pass as the locals put on a good show for the FC Dallas and Paranaense managers seated in the stands.
In the 31st minute man of the moment Neil ‘Shaka’ Hislop replaced goalkeeper Ray Burse Jr. for Dallas.
Two minutes later Devon Jorsling put the Local All-Stars ahead in the 33rd minute after teaming up with Hayden Tinto for a 1-0 lead—but all the credit to Tinto for twisting and turning past his marker and Hislop to cross inside the area allowing Jorsling an easy tap in.
In the 43rd minute Jorsling had the ball in the back of the net after a wise cross-ball by Tinto but the referee’s assistant ruled it offside.
FCD star player Denilson tried to level the score before the break but his powerful crack on goal was easily handled by goalkeeper John who stood his ground at near post in the 45th minute.
But it was LAS’ Hayden Tinto on the other end had the last try of the half spilling just wide under pressure by Alex Yi just before the whistle. The Local All-Stars heading in at the break with a 1-0 advantage.
Shaka Hislop switched teams after the break replacing Cleon John in goal for Local All-Stars.
The second minute had a few close attempts on both ends but no goals.
LAS’ captain Trent Noel in the 48th minute saw his free kick swoosh a couple feet over bar.
Two minutes later Hislop pulled off back to back saves diving low to push a powerful Ricardinho effort and Juan Toja on the rebound earning loud applauds.
Just before the hour mark, LAS striker Andre Toussaint chipped just wide of goalkeeper Dan Kennedy’s far post.
In the 65th minute Shaka made his exit—allowing Cleon John back in the mix—and his lap of honour with well earned applauds.
But that didn’t stop the action packed match as both teams attacked each other.
FC Dallas’ Kenny Cooper had a good opportunity but his tame header on goal was easily gathered by goalkeeper John in the 83rd minute.
One minute later both Conrod Smith and Josimar Belgrave fell short of a crossed ball across the face of Dan Kennedy goalline in what should have been another goal.
Kenny Cooper for Dallas missed out another late opportunity hooking wide of John’s far post after a powerful run and cross down the right by teammate Scott Jones. In the final minute of play Conrod Smith missed another chance for the Local All-Stars after a neat cross inside the area by Kevon Carter.
TeamsTT Pro League Local All-Stars:[/b] — 20.Cleon John (1.Shaka Hislop 46th) (20.Cleon John 66th), 13.Nickcolson Thomas (6.Cyd Gray 58th), 3.Keston Williams, 4.Ian Gray, 5.Akeil Edwards (2.Corneal Thomas 73rd), 17.Hayden Tinto, 7.Trent Noel (capt) (19.Josimar Belgrave 81st), 10.Marvin Oliver (18.Noel Williams), 16.Keon Daniel (8.Clyde Leon 81st), 11.Devon Jorsling (9.Conrad Smith 74th), 15.Andre Toussaint (12.Richard Roy).
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz
FC Dallas: — Ray Burse Jr. (Shaka Hislop) (Dan Kennedy 46th), David Wagenfuhr (Jamie Watson 61st), Marcello Saragosa (Bobby Rhine 46th), Abe Thompson (Kenny Cooper 46th), Juan Toja (Andrew Daniels 72nd), Denilson (Scott Jones 72nd), Drew Moor (Chase Wileman 72nd), Aaron Pitchkolan, Alex Yi (Michael Dello-Russo 46th), Dominc Oduro (Ricardinho 46th), Martin Pautasso (Blake Wagner 61st).
Coach—Steve Morrow
Paranaense beats Foreign All-Stars 4-1.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague).A superb first half performance by Clube Atletico Paranaense on the second and final day of the Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup against the TT Pro League Foreign All-Stars made sure that the visitors went away with one of the two challenge trophies.
First half doubles by Andre Guerreiro Rocha and Regerio De Assis Coutihno completed the scoring and recorded a second win for the Brazilians after having defeated the TT Pro League Local All-Stars 10-9 on penalties last Friday at the same Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Paranaense are the only team to record two wins in the four team tournament in honour of the retirement of T&T and FC Dallas goalkeeper Shaka Hislop which features two TT Pro League All-Stars teams and FC Dallas.
The Paranaense victory also said early that the visiting clubs had already beaten the local teams on points as according to the rules of the tournament.
After an earlier effort high over bar, Andre Guerreiro Rocha in the 14th minute blasted the visitors ahead from 25yards out leftfooted beating goalkeeper Richard Reynolds with pace with the ball hitting the inside of the upright and finishing in the other corner of the net for a 1-0 advantage.
In the 23rd minute Evaldo Rojas Hermoza tested Raynolds from inside the area with a powerful shot but the Caledonia AIA goalie made a good gather.
Reynolds’ luck ran out when in the 28th minute Rocha doubled the score, this time heading past the Foreign All-Stars goalie from a Stanley Richieri Afonso right sided free-kick for a 2-0 cushion.
Rocha then turned from scorer to supplier making a cross into the area for Regerio De Assis Silva Coutihno to head in another Paranaense item turning the score 3-0 by the 33rd minute.
Two minutes later Coutihno also got to his double when he had the privilege of tapping past Reynolds after the FAS goalie parried out Hermoza’s initial effort in his path for a 4-0 advantage.
As things couldn’t get worse for the Foreign All-Stars, goalkeeper Reynolds had to be replaced by W Connection’s Joao Mansano in the 39th minute due to an injury sustained.
But that seemed to have worked a bit for the Foreign All-Stars playing nothing like their first game against FC Dallas, which ended 7-6 on penalties in favour of the Americans.
The half time whistle came and Clube Atletico Paranaense enjoyed their 4-0 advantage. But in the second period, goals were hard to find for the Brazilians.
CAP had an early go at goal with Luiz Francisco Grando heading just over into the second period.
The Brazilians troubled the FAS defence again in the 53rd with Luiz Francisco Grando hitting just wide.
The Foreign All-Stars then had their first attempt on goal in the 55th minute when defender Douglas Da Costa slashed a 25yard effort wide of Vagner Da Silva’s far post.
Ten minutes later Da Costa manoeuvred through the CAP defence to meet a scrambled pass and shoot high into the roof of the net with power beating goalkeeper Vagner Da Silva to reduce the Brazilians advantage to 4-1.
In the 72nd minute Douglas Da Costa came close to netting another from close range only to direct his effort into the arms of Vagner Da Silva.
FAS defender Sheldon Emmanuel also had a couple of wide efforts as the Pro League players provoked a comeback.
CAP second half substitutes Washington Ceasar Santos Junior and Rodrigo Crasso Cordeiro had to efforts wide just around the 75th minute mark as they continued the dominate.
Second half substitute Collie Hurclues for FAS had a try from distance five minutes from time which lost pace midway and was easily handled by substitute goalkeeper Renan Nelson Rocha in goal for Paranaense.
Dwight Peters had another late try for Foreign All-Stars but that sailed over in the final minute of regulation time.
And in regulation time Marcello Roberto Lima De Mattos clipped one over from inside the area after a brilliant run down the left and cross by Washington Cesar Santos Junior as the last real play of the match.
TeamsForeign All-Stars:[/b] — 20.Richard Reynolds (1.Joao Mansano 39th), 3.Howard Lowe (15.Walter Moore 79th), 5.Elijah Joseph (capt), 13.Charles Pollard, 6.Sheldon Emmanuel, 4.Christian Viveros (19.Douglas Da Costa 46th), 7.Ronaldo Viana (11.Collie Hercules 79th), 8.Jose Seabra, 17.Nigel Codrington (10.Anthony Abrams 46th (2.Dwight Peters 65th), 18.Randolph Jerome (14.Christian Okonkwu 46th) (12.Sherwayne Morris 85th), 9.Jonathan Frias (16.Vurlon Mills 65th).
Clube Atletico Paranaense: — Vagner Da Silva (Renan Nelson Rocha 78th), Murilo Bedusco Dos Santos, Joao Leonardo De Paula, Robenval Benvindo Dos Santos, Vinicus Sartuni Hess (Rodrigo Crasso Cordeiro 60th), Andre Guerreiro Rocha (Washington Cesar Santos Junior 67th), Luiz Francisco Grando, Edvaldo Rojas Hermoza (Edimar Silva Jacomelli 60th), Everson Lins Ferreir, Regerio De Assis Coutihno (Neylor Lopes Goncalves 67th), Stanley Richieri Afonso (Fernardo De Olliveirra Junior).
Dallas coach impressed.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague.com).FC Dallas head coach Steve Morrow said that he is very impressed with the talented pool of players in the TT Pro League.
FC Dallas participated in the Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup last Friday and Sunday at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Dallas won their first match 10-9 on penalties against the TT Pro League Foreign All-Stars but lost 1-0 against the TT Pro League Local All-Stars in the final match of the four team tournament.
Speaking with ‘ttproleague.com’ prior to FC Dallas’ departure on Monday afternoon, Morrow said, “This was a very good time for us at the end of our season and a very good experience for some of our young players.”
FC Dallas finished their MLS season third in their Conference and were knocked out in the first round of the Playoffs by eventual winners Houston Dynamo.
“On the field I think the games were tough. They were very competitive matches, especially the last match against the Local All-Stars,” said Morrow speaking on the Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup.
Not only was Morrow impressed with the matches. The Dallas Coach said that he is interested in having another look at some of the Pro League players as he looks to strengthen his team for next season.
“We saw some players here that we like as well and we’ll like to come back and have another look at them,” but preferred not to name any.
“Between the two Pro League teams there are three players that I like and would want to have talks with their agents and see what we can work out,” said Morrow.
He said that the Pro League is equipped with a lot of players with natural talent, athleticism and a good physical presence and it would suit the MLS well. However, he said that with a little more coaching the players can improve and it is something that his club is willing to offer.
Morrow said that his players were all positive on the experience in both the games as well as Trinidad.
On the business side of their trip to Trinidad, the Dallas head coach said, “I know that our general manager Michael Hitchcock was very pleased with the progress that’s made down here. It’s a good start to a relationship and something we can continue developing.”
“We can sort out a few situations where we can loan a players back and forth and hope it can develop the Pro League and our team in the MLS.”
“We have learned a lot from our experience here and hope to come back in the near future,” said Steve Morrow.
