2017 Caribbean Club Championship Thread

[Tallman]

RESULTS (Sunday, May 14th 2017)
San Juan Jabloteh 2-0 Racing FC
Central FC 3-1 Grenades FC

[Flex]

Nathan Lewis, Carlos Edwards fire Jabloteh, Central ahead in CFU Club Championship finals.
ttproleague.com.

The Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship could be on its way towards a third straight all-Trinidad and Tobago final on 21 May, after TT Pro League clubs San Juan Jabloteh and Central FC made winning starts to the finals on Sunday.

Jabloteh defeated Haiti’s Racing FC 2-0 in the first game of the opening double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad to top Group B, before Central FC, who defeated Trinidadian rivals W Connection in the last two CFU Club Championship title matches, shook off an early deficit to dispatch Antigua and Barbuda’s Grenades FC 3-1 to lead Group A.

Nathan Lewis, for his fifth goal of the 2017 campaign, fired the 2003 Caribbean champions Jabloteh ahead five minutes into the second half before a Joseph Mitchelson’s own goal sixteen minutes from time put the game out of the Haitians’ reach.

Central, though, needed a Jason Marcano equaliser, a cannon-of-a-strike by Carlos Edwards, and a 25-yard Nathaniel Garcia cracker to get past Grenades after the Antiguans had taken the early lead through striker Tevaughn Harriette.

Harriette had the simple task of slotting home from close-up against the run of play, in what turned out the only real attack on the Central goal, after the defending champions new goalkeeper signing Ryan “Godda” Thompson was hung out to dry by his defence who failed to cut out a squared pass across the area by Grenades captain Rakeem Henry.

Grenades’ Jamaica ‘keeper Michaud Barrett preserved his side’s lead ten minutes later with a fine save to put wide a powerful left-footed attempt by another new Central signing, 23-year-old American, Graham Smith. Then seconds later Sean De Silva drilled a volley across the face of the visitors net.

But it was a warning of what was to follow and in the 38th-minute Marcano put Central – who received a bye to the final round as defending champions – level with a wonderful volley off Englishman Lloyd Bannister’s cross from the right.

Carlos Edwards, a T&T 2006 World Cup player and former England-based defender, then hammered past Barrett to give the 2015 and 2016 Caribbean champions the lead for the first time a minute from the half.

The 39-year-old former Wrexham and Sunderland player, turned back the clock from just inside the top of the box after running onto a sumptuous feed from De Silva.

But still, the new-look Central, due to a number of new player personnel changes, were nothing of the side that only two months ago recorded the historic Digicel Pro League three-peat although getting business done against the Antiguans.

It was not until five minutes from time that Garcia finally knocked the fight out of Grenades with his strike from distance to stretch Barrett’s onion bag once more.

Earlier, Jabloteh were the better side against Racing, but only took the lead on 50 minutes when Lewis, who combined brilliantly on the left with Kion Joseph, evaded two defenders before sending a low finish beyond the Haitian side’s goalkeeper Maurisseau Bergeot and into the far bottom corner.

Racing attackers Stevenson Guillaume and Daniel Jamesley had two excellent scoring opportunities for the visitors but failed to trouble Jabloteh goalie Javon Sample with wide attempts.

Their attempts of a comeback would suffer a blow in the 74th-minute when Mitchelson inadvertently directed a Keithy Simpson’s dangerous ball across the area past his own goalkeeper, Bergeot.

Racing and Grenades will wrap up their second and final group fixtures on Tuesday -- at the same venue -- against Jamaica’s Portmore United (5:30pm) and Dominica Republic’s Cibao (8pm), respectively, while Jabloteh and Central will complete group play against Portmore (5:30pm) and Cibao (8pm), respectively, on Thursday.

The overall group winners will face each other in the Caribbean final on Sunday 21 May from 8pm, which will be preceded by the third-place game from 5pm between the second-placed team of the respective groups.

The Caribbean champions will earn automatic qualification into next season’s newly re-formatted Concacaf Champions League which commences in February 2018.

While the second, third and fourth place finishing teams in the CFU tournament will join 13 Central American teams in the Confederation’s newly launched club championship which kicks off in August. The overall champion team of the club championship for Caribbean and Central American clubs will also qualifying for next season’s Concacaf Champions League.

Results

San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Nathan Lewis 50', Own Goal Joseph Mitchelson 74') vs Racing FC 0, (Group B)

Central FC 3 (Jason Marcano 38', Carlos Edwards 44', Nathaniel Garcia 85') vs Grenades FC 1 (Tevaughn Harriette 6'), (Group A)

Game 1

San Juan Jabloteh (T&T): 1.Javon Sample (GK); 6.Akeem Benjamin, 7.Elijah Manners, 9.Keithy Simpson, 11.Damian Williams (Capt.), 12.Kion Joseph, 16.Jairo Lombardo (10.Kadeem Corbin 70th minute), 17.Vurlon Mills (13.Julio Noel 76th minute), 18.Jevon Morris (5.Shakiyl Phillip 85th minute), 24.Adrian Reid, 27.Nathan Lewis.

Unused substitutes: 30.Shemel Louison (GK); 3.Josiah Trimmingham, 8.Micah Lansiquot, 14.Hayden Tinto.

Coach: Keith Jeffrey (T&T)

Racing FC (Haiti): 1.Maurisseau Bergeot (GK); 2.Laurent Estenio, 6.Joseph Mitchelson, 7.Fleurancier Marckenley, 8.Paul Danshley (22.Jean Jackson 82nd minute), 10.Ojulesse Valcourt (Capt.) (16.Dorisca Markens 90th minute), 11.Stevenson Guillaume, 13.Louissaint Kervenson, 15.Charles Bendy, 17.Daniel Jamesley (14.Jean Junior Odiles), 20.Senatus Earnso Ralph J.

Unused substitutes: 35.Jeune Janel (GK); 4.Philippe Junior, 9.Delva Adiles, 18.Jean Pierre Guerson.

Coach: Philippe Giuliano (HAI)

Referee: Ricangel de Leca (ARU).

Game 2

Central FC: 1.Ryan Thompson (GK); 5.Keston George (Capt.), 6.Carlos Edwards, 7.Jason Marcano (18.Tyrik John 87th minute, 8.Sean De Silva, 12.Taryk Sampson, 15.Lloyd Bannister, 19.Nathaniel Garcia, 24.Graham Smith (44.Callum Harris 58th minute), 28.Fresnel Simil, 42.Richard Pierre (11.Johan Peltier 62nd minute).

Unused substitutes: 30.Akel Clarke (GK); 10.Keron Cummings, 40.Clinton Olagunju, 46.Kaydion Gabriel.

Coach: Dale Saunders (T&T)

Grenades FC: 32.Michaud Barrett (GK); 4.Stefan Smith, 5.Christopher Harvey, 6.Lamar Hodges (23.Ranja Christian 55th minute), 7.Nazir Mc Bernette, 8.Zacchaeus Polius, 9.Tevaughn Harriette, 10.Rakeem Henry (Capt.), 12.Blake Thompson, 13.Karanjah Mack (15.Shkkimba Williams 73rd minute), 18.Okeem Challenger (17.Hakeem Joseph 65th minute).

Unused substitutes: 1.Prince Walter (GK); 14.Curtez Kellman, 19.Lloyd Matthews, 20.Tazio Williamson.

Coach: Derrick Edwards (ATG)

Referee: Sherwin Moore (GUY)

Table-A

Team                              GP      W      D     L     GF     GA     GD     Pts
Central FC                      1          1       0     0     3         1        2        3
Cibao FC                         0          0      0      0     0         0       0        0
Grenades FC                  1          0       0      1     1         3      -2        0

Table-B

Team                              GP      W      D     L     GF     GA     GD     Pts
San Juan Jabloteh          1         1       0      0     2        0        2        3
Portmore United              0         0       0      0     0        0        0        0
Racing FC                       1         0        0     1     0        2        -2       0

[Tallman]

WATCH: Highlights of San Juan Jabloteh’s 2-0 win over Haiti’s Racing FC

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/pnYHofz9gYk" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/pnYHofz9gYk</a>

[Tallman]

WATCH: Highlights of Central FC’s 3-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda’s Grenades FC.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/YmAbtGlKnlI" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/YmAbtGlKnlI</a>

[Deeks]

Good Luck to all the Trini teams.

[Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$]

Carlos answer 4 questions and say obviously 13 times. Obviously like the word obviously lol No wonder people does lambast my school and call it the Jr. Sec of colleges

[asylumseeker]

Despite netting the equaliser, ah find Marcano made (1). poor decisions and (2). generally doh look sharp.

[100% Barataria]

Carlos answer 4 questions and say obviously 13 times. Obviously like the word obviously lol No wonder people does lambast my school and call it the Jr. Sec of colleges

What year you graduated from morne coco senior? 

[Deeks]

That bullet scored by the Central player was a scorcher.

[Sam]

That bullet scored by the Central player was a scorcher.

That's Carlos Edwards.

[Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$]

Carlos answer 4 questions and say obviously 13 times. Obviously like the word obviously lol No wonder people does lambast my school and call it the Jr. Sec of colleges

What year you graduated from morne coco senior? 

I leave half way into 4th form ('90) to migrate so I was looking @ 92 after form 6

[100% Barataria]

Cool cool, had a brief stint there from 92 to 93.  You were probably in class with Loregnard?  I sweat against Miguel Mitchell and others back in 89

[Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$]

Cool cool, had a brief stint there from 92 to 93.  You were probably in class with Loregnard?  I sweat against Miguel Mitchell and others back in 89

Loregnard was meh boy buh we din ha class together. Only man from the team I had class with briefly before I leave was Wally (GB). Is like all ah dem was concentrated in 2 classes.  Me and Miguel does still keep in touch.  If not for his illness I think he coulda be we brightest star footballer oui.  I used to sweat with all ah dem normel and sharing dread beats too lol

[Errol]

Portmore United 1 (Ricardo Morris 17’) vs Racing FC 0

Cibao FC 2 (Woodensky Cherenfant 53’, 56’) vs Grenades FC 2 (Tevaughn Harriette 85’, Own Goal César Danco García 86’)

Team                              GP      W      D     L     GF     GA     GD     Pts
Central FC                      1          1       0     0     3         1        2        3
Cibao FC                         1          0      1      0     2         2       0        1
Grenades FC                  2          0       2      1     3         5      -2        1

Team                              GP      W      D     L     GF     GA     GD     Pts
San Juan Jabloteh          1         1       0      0     2        0        2        3
Portmore United              1         1       0      0     1        0        1        3
Racing FC                       2         0        0     2     0        3        -3       0

[100% Barataria]

Cool cool, had a brief stint there from 92 to 93.  You were probably in class with Loregnard?  I sweat against Miguel Mitchell and others back in 89

Loregnard was meh boy buh we din ha class together. Only man from the team I had class with briefly before I leave was Wally (GB). Is like all ah dem was concentrated in 2 classes.  Me and Miguel does still keep in touch.  If not for his illness I think he coulda be we brightest star footballer oui.  I used to sweat with all ah dem normel and sharing dread beats too lol

Lol, didn't know he had an illness, hope he is OK.  Though we lost 2-0, is level jam he got in MF trying to run past meh, lol. He laugh lass though

[Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$]

Lol, didn't know he had an illness, hope he is OK.  Though we lost 2-0, is level jam he got in MF trying to run past meh, lol. He laugh lass though

Yeah he have Multiple Sclerosis. In conversation he say he make a few bad choices too eh but da illness woulda done him in the sport prematurely all the same

[100% Barataria]

Real sorry to hear that dread, hope he manages as best as he can...

[Mad Scorpion a/k/a Big Bo$$]

Real sorry to hear that dread, hope he manages as best as he can...

He seem to be doing okay, had surgery sometime last year

[Flex]

Cibao edge 10-man Central to set Caribbean final date with Jabloteh.
ttproleague.com.

San Juan Jabloteh and Dominican Republic outfit Cibao FC will contest the final of the 2017 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship from 8pm on Sunday after both sides progressed from the final round in Trinidad as group winners.

The new Caribbean champions will also secure the region's automatic spot at next year's newly re-formatted Concacaf Champions League which begins in February.

Jabloteh, who grabbed first half goals through Adrian Reid and Vurlon Mills, were held to a late 2-2 comeback draw by Jamaica powerhouse Portmore United before 10-men Central, the two-time holders, were edged 1-0 by, arguably the toughest side of the finals, Cibao, on Thursday—in the final double-header of group action.

Patrick Soko scored the decisive Cibao item eight minutes into the second half after Central, who were hoping to create history by becoming three-time consecutive Caribbean champions, lost midfielder Nathaniel Garcia to a second yellow card a minute from the break at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The result lifted Cibao (1-1-0; 4 points) ahead of Central (1-0-1; 3 points) to take Group A which also has Antigua & Barbuda side Grenades FC (0-1-1; 1 point), while Jabloteh (1-1-0; 4 points), with the point earned, cemented their place at the top of Group B, ahead of Portmore (1-1-0; 4 points) on a goal difference while Haiti's Racing FC (0-0-2; 0 point) are bottom.

Central and Portmore will contest the third-place match on Sunday from 5pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium which will be followed by the CFU Club Championship final.

Central, Portmore and the Caribbean's runners-up -- as the region's second, third and fourth-placed teams -- will join 13 Central American teams in the newly launched Concacaf League which begins in August, in which the overall champions will also qualify for next season's Concacaf Champions League.

Jabloteh, who reached the CFU Club Championship finals as the best team of the first round group play earlier this year, had looked on their way for a fifth straight win of the campaign after leading 2-0 at the break.

Reid, one of three – team captain Damian Williams and Keithy Simpson the others – former Portmore players in the Jabloteh line-up, fired the San Juan Kings ahead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after defender Kareem Manning bundled Mills to ground in a desperate attempt to clear a dangerous Nathan Lewis cross.

The Jabloteh penalty specialist left Portmore goalkeeper Shaven Sean Paul anchored to the ground as the ball entered the right bottom corner.

Mills then made it two nil four minutes from the half with a glancing header to beat Paul off a right side Williams’ free kick.

Sue Lae McCalla, who was replaced less than ten minutes after the break, had Portmore’s best attempt of the first half with an ambitious strike from distance which whisked past goalkeeper Javon Sample’s top corner.

It was business as usual for Jabloteh though, against a very physically Portmore side that forced top Guyanese referee Sherwin Moore to reach for his yellow card seven times, including the red shown to a frustrated Manning who was handed his second booking of the game over the 90-minute mark for dissent.

But the game had earlier turned sour for Jabloteh after a dreadful miss by Simpson, who struck the upright with the empty goal at his mercy just over the hour mark.

Lewis had initiated the counterattack out of the back before releasing Kadeem Corbin into an vacant Portmore half with only goalkeeper Paul at his mercy. Corbin on entering the Jamaicans’ penalty area forced Paul to commit before rolling the ball right to Simpson who, shockingly, hit the base up the upright.

Jabloteh head coach Keith Jeffrey, possibly expressing his fury, later replaced the midfielder with Kennedy Simpson, then with his team still holding the two-goal cushion followed with a double-change with Micah Lansiquot and Hayden Tinto replacing Elijah Manners and Corbin, respectively, with quarter-of-an-hour left.

But Portmore had earlier plans. Their head coach Linval Dixon had made changes too.

Substitute Jeremie Lynch pulled back a goal for the Jamaicans, beating Jabloteh goalie Sample five minutes from time after meeting a pass from Cleon Pryce inside the box.

Then two minutes later Portmore’s captain Ewan Grandison drilled in a low shot into Sample’s bottom corner after making contact to to Javon East's cross to level the scores at 2-2.

Jabloteh, who had missed second-half chances by Corbin and twice from Lewis, were rescued by Sample in stoppage-time when he kept out another Lynch attempt.

Cibao's Argentine goalkeeper Juan Pablo Dominguez—one of three staring changes made by former Barcelona youth coach Albert Benaiges Sala for the clash—also made a superb one-handed save on the night, tipping over Central’s Sean De Silva’s attempt in the first half of the second game.

Cibao later threatened with Ernesto Trinidad's glancing header off playmaker Charles Herold Jr.'s corner in the 37th-minute.

Central survived another scare two minutes from the half when American Gerard Paul Lavergne's powerful low drive cannoned off goalkeeper Ryan "Godda" Thompson's far upright.

But the Couva Sharks weren't spared seconds later by Aruban referee Ricangel de Leca who issued Nathaniel Garcia -- cautioned earlier for apparent time wasting -- a second yellow then the automatic red card following a tackle on defender Richard Damas.

Central responded with a tactical change, replacing Callum Harris with striker Tyrik John after the break, and within the last fifteen minutes gambled it all by replacing Haitian defender Fresnel Simil and defensive midfielder Graham Smith with attacking options Johan Peltier and Keron Cummings in search of the needed equaliser.

The Couva Sharks' troubles had earlier doubled on 53 minutes when Cibao winger Soko swooped in the area to hit past Thompson for a 1-0 lead following a giveaway in the Dominican side's half by Taryk Sampson and a gallop down the left by Domingo Peralta to provide the pass across the Central area.

A place in the final was at stake and didn’t came as a surprise when the action boiled over just over the hour mark, forcing referee De Leca to quell a fracas as Cibao players accused Simil elbowing goalscorer Soko as they prepared to defend a Central corner.

However the remaining half hour, though keenly contested, went goalless, setting the stage for new champions on Sunday.

Results

San Juan Jabloteh 2 (Adrian Reid 34’ pen., Vurlon Mills 41’) vs Portmore United 2 (Jeremie Lynch 85’, Ewan Grandison 87’)

Central FC 0 vs Cibao FC 1 (Patrick Soko 53’)

Group A

Team                              GP      W      D     L     GF     GA     GD     Pts
Cibao FC                         2         1       1      0     3         2       1        4
Central FC                      2          1       0      0     3         2       1        3
Grenades FC                  2          0       1      1     3         5      -2        1

Group B

Team                              GP      W      D     L     GF     GA     GD     Pts
San Juan Jabloteh          2         1       1      0     4        2        2        4
Portmore United              2         1       1      0     3        2        1        4
Racing FC                       2         0        0     2     0        3        -3       0

Game 1

San Juan Jabloteh (T&T): 1.Javon Sample (GK); 6.Akeem Benjamin, 7.Elijah Manners (8.Micah Lansiquot 76th minute), 9.Keithy Simpson (23.Kennedy Hinkson 70th minute), 10.Kadeem Corbin (14.Hayden Tinto 76th minute), 11.Damian Williams (Capt.), 12.Kion Joseph, 17.Vurlon Mills, 18.Jevon Morris, 24.Adrian Reid, 27.Nathan Lewis.

Unused substitutes: 30.Shemel Louison (GK); 3.Josiah Trimmingham, 5.Shakiyl Phillip, 13.Julio Noel.

Coach: Keith Jeffrey (T&T)

Portmore United (Jamaica): 1.Shaven Sean Paul (GK); 3.Andre Dyce (Yellow Card), 4.Damano Solomon (Yellow Card), 6.Kareem Manning (Yellow Card + Yellow Card = Red Card), 8.Ricardo Morris (Yellow Card), 12.Sue-Lae McCalla (10.Maalique Foster 54th minute), 15.Javon East, 17.Ewan Grandison (Capt.) (Yellow Card), 19.Cleon Pryce (Yellow Card), 20.Henrico Ricketts (16.Roberto Johnson 60th minute), 21.Michael Binns (9.Jeremie Lynch 68th minute)

Unused substitutes: 13.Kemar Foster (GK); 5.Ryan Wellington, 22.Kemo Gayle, 24.Damion Binns.

Coach: Linval Dixon (JAM)

Referee: Sherwin Moore (GUY)

Game 2

Central FC: 1.Ryan Thompson (GK); 5.Keston George (Capt.), 6.Carlos Edwards, 7.Jason Marcano, 8.Sean De Silva, 12.Taryk Sampson, 19.Nathaniel Garcia (Yellow Card + Yellow Card = Red Card), 24.Graham Smith (Yellow Card) (10.Keron Cummings 81st minute), 28.Fresnel Simil (11.Johan Peltier 78th minute), 44.Callum Harris (18.Tyrik John 46th minute), 46.Kaydion Gabriel.

Unused substitutes: 30.Akel Clarke (GK); 15.Lloyd Bannister, 40.Clinton Olagunju, 42.Richard Pierre.

Cibao FC (Dominican Republic): 12.Juan Pablo Dominguez (GK), 3.César Danco García, 4.Richard Dabas, 5.José Tafarel Ferreira, 7.Woodensky “Babalito” Cherenfant, 8.Paulson Pierre, 10.Charles Hérold Jr., 11.Domingo Peralta, 13.Rafael Leonardo Flores, 16.Patrick Serge Soko (6.Oscar Florencío 92nd minute), 22.Earnesto Trinidad.

Unused substitutes: 1.Luis Alexander Rodriguez Polanco (GK), 15.Rhonald García, 18.Gerard Lavergne, 20.Edward Acevedo Cruz, 21.José Jáquez Jr., 23.Diego José Ceara Muñoz.

Coach: Albert Benaiges Sala (ESP)

Referee: Ricangel de Leca (ARU)

Upcoming fixtures
(Sunday, May 21, 2017)

Third-place

Central FC vs Portmore United—5pm

Final

Cibao FC vs San Juan Jabloteh—8pm

[Sando prince]

Central probably went into the game underestimating the Dominican team (thinking they already had the game won) and paid a price of defeat in the end.
.

[trini_stallion]

Central get beat by a DR team...they're know for baseball...wayyy Central...all dem ah talk ...that sad yea

[Deeks]

Maybe the team playing better. Plus Centrsl played part of the game a man down. Also is a new generation of Dominicans. They are taking the game seriously.

[asylumseeker]

The kicker is that Cibao is a mid-table team in the LDF this season.

[asylumseeker]

Re: Jabloteh v Portmore

In serious 11 v 11 football one rarely sees 3 attackers bearing down on a GK,  3 v 1 with the GK being the '1' ... Absolutely crazy that a goal wouldn't be the end product. I had to laugh watching that, but it was an embarrassing moment for local football.

Generally, a lot of the highlighted footage exposes the domestic league rather than provides an advertisement for the league.

Looking forward to seeing a proper final with improved quality.

[asylumseeker]

So, no live streaming from CFU to accommodate the masses across the CFU that would be eager to view a CFU club final?

It's likely Cibao FC will provide a stream. Will link it when it's up.

[Deeks]

What time this ting starting. I have to say ting because the local TV taking this final as another football ting.

[asylumseeker]

What time this ting starting. I have to say ting because the local TV taking this final as another football ting.

8pm TT

[asylumseeker]

WATCH CFU Club Championship final featuring San Juan Jabloteh v Cibao FC.

http://cdn.com.do/envivo.html

Enjoy!

[asylumseeker]

Plenty work for Jabloteh to do to walk away with this trophy. Paid the price for having defenders who didn't jump to challenge for the ball, others who were mannequins, and as a group who seemed to pass on responsibility.

 I would like to see constructive football in midfield instead of by-passing the MF and not building a possession game.

Regardless, Nathan Lewis looks like he and composure are strangers.

Cibao is not in existence even three years. Come nah man Jabloteh!!!

[100% Barataria]

Big toots, no chief