W Connection booted out FA Trophy.
T&T Express Reports.[/size]
Anton Pierre of the Defence Force powered home a free-kick from atop the penalty box four minutes from the end of the match to knot up a dull FA Trophy quarter-final at one-all against W Connection on Friday at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya.
And although 30 minutes of extra-time failed to produce any more goals, the ensuing penalty shootout finally brought an excitement to a game that failed to fire.
Defence Force goalkeeper Cleon John brought off two saves from the spot kicks, stopping normally sure-footed Brazilians Williams De Oliviera and Jose Luis Seabra, as the Defence Force won 3-2 on penalty kicks.
After upsetting W Connection, Defence Force meet Defence Force North, another Army team, at 6 p.m. today in the first encounter in a semi-final double-header at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh contest the second semi-final at 8 p.m. against defending FA Trophy champions National Quarries North East Stars, who won the tournament the last time it was played in 2003.
After winning the 2005 T&T Pro League title, the FCB Cup, the Toyota Classic and finishing second in the T&T Pro Bowl, W. Connection went into Friday's match looking for their fourth title. But after a long season, the Savonetta-based team looked jaded and neither team was able to create much scoring opportunities.
Finally, in the 70th minute, W. Connection opened their account through Nigerian substitute Stanley Iyiaka, who forced in the rebound when a shot from Connection's Brazilian midfielder Gefferson Goulart bounced off the body of Defence Force keeper John.
Most fans must have been relieved to see a semingly early end to the 80-minute knockout match. But then, Pierre came up with his "bomb", which keeper Jan Michael Williams got a hand to, but could not keep out of the W. Connection goal.
Likewise, in the penalty shootout, Defence Force also came from behind to win. Anton Pierre and Akeil Pierre missed their first two spot-kicks and Earl Jean, the W Connection captain, also missed when his opening kick came off the underside of the Defence Force crossbar.
But, Connection took the lead when Andre Toussaint tucked away the fourth spot-kick of the match. However, while the Army put away their final three kicks, W Connection had two saved and only Goulart was able to convert.
Keith Kelly suffers broken leg.
By: Joel Villafana.
Jabloteh's newly acquired Jamaican Keith Kelly suffered a broken leg during Sunday's Bix Six clash with North East Stars at the Larry Gomes Stadium. Kelly was acquired by Jabloteh in the last transfer window and was carefully weaned into the team while recovering from a knee injury. Kelly did not feature much for Jabloteh due to the length of time he took to regain his fitness and speed which is a big part of Jabloteh's game. In what was turning out to be one of his better games for Jabloteh Kelly was delivering some telling passes to the Jabloteh forward line and in doing so must have made himself a target of the North East Stars technical team. Unfortunately, the vicious tackle he received from a high boot occurred right in front of the referee but the North East Stars player involved was not penalised. The referee allowed play to continue with North East Stars in possession until the ball was won by and mercifully deliberately kicked out of touch by Jabloteh defender Ronald Primus. This allowed the referee to summon Jabloteh's medical team to assist Kelly who at that time was writhing in pain on the ground.
The game turned out to be a very physical encounter with two Jabloteh players, Kelly and young defender Marcelle Francois having to been forced to discontinue playing due to injuries. Francois suffered a cut to his forehead from an aerial clash with a North East Stars player. That offence too was left unpunished by the referee.
In what turned out to be a horrible night for Jabloteh their forward line failed to score but Jabloteh will be looking to use their crisp passing game and quick transition play to get the better of the very physical Stars outfit if they clash in the FA Cup Semi-Finals next Sunday.
