DIRECTV W Connection and North East Stars, both former winners, will meet in the Final of the 2013 Lucozade Sport Goal Shield in early May.
This after the Stars defeated Defence Force 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 stalemate in semi-final one at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Friday, followed by Connection ousting defending champions Caledonia AIA of Morvant Laventille with a 2-1 Joevin Jones inspired win in semi-final two.
For Connection and Caledonia, it was a matter of cancelling each other in the first half, but separated by a 39th minute Jones’ item.
Clearly unfortunate for Caledonia and its Grenada National Team goalkeeper Shemel Louision, when Jones’ left footed strike from above the area following a neat buildup by Connection deflected off defender Akeem Thomas and ended into the back of the net.
Caledonia surely considered themselves unlucky when just before the halftime whistle when a slightly deflected Akim Armstrong effort swooshed over-bar.
And nine minutes inside the second period attacker Keyon Edwards failed to make solid contact on Armstrong’s cross with the goal at his mercy.
But a minute later (55th), Armstrong ended a quick flowing movement by Caledonia with a curling strike into the corner of goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa’s net to level the scores 1-1 and set the second half alight.
Connection pressed to restore its advantage but was denied by goalkeeper Louision in the 73rd minute with the Grenadian preserving the scoreline by making a terrific save to measure a header by Andrei Pacheco off Kurt Frederick cross swung in from the left.
Then in the 79th minute from a Jones’ freekick which left defender Aubrey David fully sprawled, the ball miraculously trickled just wide. And in the 86t minute from another Connection freekick, substitute Silvio Spann struck wide.
But Connection finally got the winner in the 92nd minute of play through a spectacular Jones finish.
Just as Caledonia got set for kicks from the penalty mark by replacing Louision with goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel, Connection had other ideas.
Seconds after stepping between the uprights, a fully stretched Samuel wasn’t enough to get glove on Jones’ curling left footed strike after the utility player twisted and turned his way through two Caledonia defenders.
And in the earlier match, North East Stars attacker Elijah Manners welcomed a giveaway by Sean Narcis and raced into the area before letting off an attempt across goal in the 35th minute, which Kerry Baptiste slapped home at the back post.
However that wasn’t enough for the Stars, playing without potent striker Cornell Glen who was rested because of a calve strain suffered in the 1-0 semi-final win over Central FC.
Defence Force winger Jemel Sebro, who missed out on a gifted opportunity just twelve minutes inside the match off a Kevon Carter cross, returned the favour in the 51st minute to Carter and the Trinidad and Tobago international made no mistake with a perfectly placed header past goalkeeper Cleon John to level the scores 1-1.
The Soldiers had further chances with striker Devorn Jorsling hitting just wide in the 67th minute, and denied by John five minutes later.
Then in the 73rd minute Defence Force substitute Josimar Belgrave was denied by a Kaashif Thomas clearance after a timid Jorsling corner slipped across the area.
North East Stars had their chances too, when in the 86th minute Jamaican substitute Keithy Simpson was denied twice by goalkeeper Kevin Graham who back to back shutouts at point blank.
And in the 90th minute Simpson was denied by the crossbar after meeting a Jayson Joseph corner with a powerful header.
But the real drama unfolded on kicks from the penalty spot.
After Simpson struck the upper corner for the Sangre Grande club’s third kick from the penalty spot, it was down to goalkeeper Cleon John to turn around the deficit and rescue the Stars.
And John—commonly known for saves from the spot—did so, remarkably well, by making saves against Defence Force’s fourth and sixth kickers, Josimar Belgrave and Jemel Sebro respectively to send the Angus Eve coached club into a second Final this season.
North East Stars, winners of their maiden Toyota Classic this season, picked up the title thanks to John.
Two saves on kicks from the penalty spot in the semi-final round against Stokely Vale (for a 4-1 penalty win following a 1-1 draw) and two more against Defence Force (for a 4-2 penalty win following a 2-2 draw) in the Classic Final added to his credentials to deservingly named Player of the Tournament.
Surely John’s services remains a must for the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield Final against inaugural winners W Connection on either Friday 3 or Saturday 4 May based on the later club’s Caribbean Club Championship commitments.
Kicks from the penalty mark
North East Stars (5)—(4) Defence Force
Elijah Manners (scored) Richard Roy (scored)
Kareem Moses (scored) Curtis Gonzales (scored)
Keithy Simpson (missed) Rodell Elcock (scored)
Kaashif Thomas (scored) Josimar Belgrave (saved)
Kennedy Hinkson (scored) Corey Rivers (scored)
Kevon Villaroel (scored) Jemel Sebro (saved)
Regulation time score
Defence Force 1—1 North East Stars
Kerry Baptiste 35’ ; Kevon Carter 51’
Caledonia AIA 1—2 W Connection
Akim Armstrong 55’ ; Joevin Jones 39’ 90’+2 ;
Teams
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Rodell Elcock, Devin Jordan, Curtis Gonzales, Devorn Jorsling (Richard Roy 78th), Kevon Carter, Jerwyn Balthazar, Ross Russell Jr. (Aklie Edwards 85th), Sean Narcis (Josimar Belgrave 49th), Jemel Sebro.
Unused substitutes—Sheldon Clarke, Kerry Joseph, Dexter Pacheco, Dwight Scott.
Technical Director/Head Coach—Ross Russell.
North East Stars—Cleon John (capt.), Kareem Moses, Kerry Baptiste (Keithy Simpson 72nd), Kevon Villaroel, Jeromie Williams (Jayson Joseph 60th), Elijah Manners, Gary Glasgow (Marcus Gomez 56th), Kaashif Thomas, Glenton Wolfe, Kennedy Hinkson, Keryn Navarro.
Unused substitutes—Adrian Foncette, Micah Lewis, Akiel Guevara, Jean-Luc Rochford.
Coach—Angus Eve.
Teams
Caledonia AIA—Shemel Louision (Glenroy Samuel (92nd), Stephan David (capt.) (Yellow Card), Aubrey David, Colin Nelson (Yellow Card), Aquil Selby, Keyon Edwards, Akim Armstrong (Yellow Card), Akeem Thomas (Trevin Caesar 74th), Densill Theobald (Yellow Card), Jamal Gay (Vurlon Mills 83rd), Nathan Lewis.
Unused substitutes—Odelle Armstrong, Sherron Joseph, Miguel Alejandro Romeo, Aaron Lester.
Technical Director—Jamaal Shabazz/Head Coach—Jerry Moe.
W Connection—Alejandro Figueroa, Clyde Leon (capt.), Daneil Cyrus, Gerrard Williams, Hashim Arcia, Andrei Pacheco (Tremain Shayn Paul 76th), Leslie Joel Russell (Yellow Card), Christian Viveros, Jomal Williams (Silvio Spann 80th) (Yellow Card), Kurt Frederick, Joevin Jones (Yellow Card).
Unused substitutes—Aquelius Sylvester, Jelani Grosvenor, Elijah Joseph, Akeem Roach, Alvin Jones.
Technical Director/Head Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.