Both Defence Force and Central FC booked themselves into the Final of the 2013 First Citizens Cup via 4-3 and 3-2 penalty wins respectively on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Defence Force in semi-final one needed an injury time equalizer from substitute Devorn Jorsling for a 2-2 regulation time score against Jabloteh, which looked set for the win following a first half double by Kerry Baptiste.
And in semi-final two, referee Rodphin Harris nullified what could have been a very entertaining Couva derby between bitter rivals Central and DIRECTV W Connection after an early sending-off of "Sharks" captain Jason Marcano.
Marcano was flashed the yellow card for dissent in the 13th minute and the red quickly followed as the midfielder failed to contain his emotions and is believed to have used obscene language.
However the 10-man Central were able to match Connection in every department in the first half, and absorbed everything that was thrown at them in the second period, before outdoing the "Savonnetta Boys" from the spot following a 0-0 draw.
But its head coach Terry Fenwick wasn't up close and personal for the celebrations as he too felt the wrath of referee Harris, who ejected the Englishman from the technical area four minutes from the break in another verbal violation.
Central goalie Jan Michael Williams, a former standout at Connection and Player of the Year, was heroic between the uprights by pulling off back to back saves in the third and fourth kicks against Jamal Clarence and Kurt Frederick respectively. And when Neil Benjamin Jr. blasted his strike overbar in the fifth, it was all over for the current Digicel Pro League leaders and 2013 Digicel Charity Shield winners.
Substitute Joevin Jones and Brazilian right-back, one of seven foreign nationals in the "Savonnetta Boys" starting lineup, scored their team's first two kicks.
Central meantime, were on target from strikes by veteran midfielder Marvin Oliver, Elton John and Dwight Quintero; interupted in the third kick by a Julani Archibald save against Rundell Winchester.
Winchester was also blanked by the St. Kitts/Nevis international in the 20th and 81st minutes. Archibald also made a comfortable gather against Hector Sam in the 32nd minute, but clearly lacked the sort of experience his opposite number boasted during kicks from the spot.
Jan Michael Williams was unbeatable in regular time, making a shutout against Jerrel Britto in the 22nd and wrapping a Hashim Arcia strike in the 30th minute.
Connection's Surinamese forward Stefano Rijssel also had two powerful efforts at goal in the 5th and 39th minute, but was slightly off target.
In the earlier semi-final, Jorsling, last season's top scorer, was clinical when he struck a trademark freekick past the wall and goalkeeper Keston Malchan to rescue his side, following a handball just outside the Jabloteh area.
Jorsling, who only returned to the team six days ago following an Army promotional course to the rank of lance corporal which he is now, proved his sharpness again in Defence Force's first kick on penalties.
Teammates Kerry Joseph, Curtis Gonzales and Corey Rivers also found the back of the net from the spot, and despite a fourth kick miss by Keston Williams, who placed an overconfident chip onto the crossbar, Jabloteh were weakened since its first two kicks.
Rennie Britto blasted his effort out of the stadium and Jelani Felix struck the framework, and although teammates Shane Hospidales, Shaquille Bertrand and Jamal Spencer found the back of the net, it was heartbreak at the end for the San Juan club and coach Keith Jeffrey who was that close to reaching a final.
It was Jabloteh that led the match early, with a 1-0 advantage in the 20th minute, when double goalscorer Kerry Baptiste at the back post, bodied over the line a Lekion Elie cross which had already defeated goalkeeper Kevin Graham.
But from a quickly taken Defence Force freekick in the 28th minute, the soldiers leveled the score 1-1.
Josimar Belgrave, who had a headed effort cleared off the Rennie Britto in the 8th minute, was quick in midfield to slip a pass to Kerry Joseph, who completed the play with a cool finish past Jabloteh goalie Keston Malchan.
Then four minutes before the break, Baptiste restored Jabloteh's one goal advantage with a 2-1 score from the penalty spot after Britto was tripped inside the area by an outstretched leg of Gonzales.
Referee Gyasi Mc Donald was convinced enough and quickly pointed to the spot.
Baptiste, then increased his overall tally to 6 goals in all competitions this season, which happens to be just three matches, when his strike hit the underside of the crossbar, down into the goal and back out, leaving Graham a bit confused.
Defence Force which had an ambitious try from distance by team captain Corey Rivers wide of the target in the 13th minute; a Jemel Sebro effort foiled by Malchan in the 18th minute; and an inches wide blast from Belgrave in the 25th minute, were forced to fetch the services speedy winger Kevon Carter and ace forward Jorsling off the bench, after striker Richard Roy headed a Marvin Jones cross onto the crossbar and was beaten to the rebound by Malchan in the 54th minute.
Shortly after, Jabloteh coach Jeffery substituted Baptiste with the fresh legs of Shaquille Bertrand with 30 minutes left.
With Baptiste out of the way, and Carter and Jorsling lurking on the other end, the 2012-13 Digicel Pro League champions, Defence Force, forced themselves back into contention.
In the 81st minute Carter was set free at goal but Malchan was brilliant to block out the substitute's effort, and the follow up was hammered overbar by Sean Narcis.
Three minutes later Defence Force had a shout for penalty ignored by referee Mc Donald after Carter went down inside the area. And in the 88th minute the speedy winger’s glancing header off a Kerry Joseph cross flew just wide.
While Jabloteh's best second half effort was a 65th minute curling try from Britto which Graham thwarted.
Defence Force and Central will meet in the Final on Friday 18 October, which is two long weeks away.
Next Tuesday Defence Force will be in action in Round One Match Day Three of the 2013-14 Digicel Pro League championship, while Central receives a bye.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium Caledonia AIA will tackle Police FC from 6pm, and Defence Force against North East Stars from 8pm.
Simultaneously at the Ato Boldon Stadium, St. Ann’s Rangers will meet Point Fortin Civic from 6pm and W Connection against Jabloteh from 8pm.
First Citizens Cup 2013
Ato Boldon Stadium
Friday 4 October
Semi-final One results
Kicks from the penalty mark
San Juan Jabloteh (3) Defence Force (4)
Rennie Britto (missed) Devorn Jorsling (scored)
Jelani Felix (missed) Kerry Joseph (scored)
Shane Hospidales (scored) Curtis Gonzales (scored)
Shaquille Bertrand (scored) Keston Williams (missed)
Jamal Spencer (scored) Corey Rivers (scored)
Regular time score
Defence Force 2 - 2 San Juan Jabloteh
Kerry Joseph 28', Devorn Jorsling 90'+2 ; Kerry Baptiste 20', 41'(pen)
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh – 1. Keston Malchan, 10. Kerry Baptiste (C) (Yellow Card) (14. Shaquille Bertrand 70th), 18. Jevon Morris, 19. Dillon Kirton, 26. Keino Goodridge (Yellow Card), 3. Lekion Elie (16. Nyron Jones 60th), 21. Lemuel Lyons (20. Kevon Piper 46th), 22. Shane Hospidales, 9. Jelani Felix, 12. Jamal Spencer 7. Rennie Britto.
Unused substitutes –30. Jessie Peters (G), 25. Alfie James, 17. Kerry Daniel, 8. Anthony Guppy.
Coach – Keith Jeffrey.
Defence Force—1. Kevin Graham, 14. Corey Rivers (C) (Yellow Card), 3. Keston Williams, 8. Curtis Gonzales, 10. Josimar Belgrave (17. Ross Russell Jr. 72nd), 12. Jemel Sebro (11. Kevon Carter 64th), 13. Marvin Jones (Yellow Card), 18. Sean Narcis, 21. Aklie Edwards, 23. Kerry Joseph, 23. Richard Roy (9. Devorn Jorsling 67th).
Unused substitutes—25. Sheldon Clarke (G), 5. Devin Jordan, 65. Levi Serries, 15. Jerwyn Balthazar.
Coach—Ross Russell.
Match Referee - Gyasi McDonald.
Semi-final Two results
Kicks from the penalty mark
W Connection (2) Central FC (3)
Joevin Jones (scored) Marvin Oliver (scored)
Joao Ananias Jordao Jr. (scored) Elton John (scored)
Jamal Clarence (saved) Rundell Winchester (saved)
Kurt Frederick (saved) Dwight Quintero (scored)
Neil Benjamin Jr. (missed)
Regular time score
Central FC 0 - 0 W Connection
Teams
Central FC - 21. Jan-Michael Williams, 7. Jason Marcano (C), 2. Elton John, 3. Keion Goodridge, 10. Marvin Oliver, 11. Darren Mitchell (9. Dwight Quintero 88nd), 12. Jamal Jack, 13. Johan Peltier (16. Akil DeFreitas 77th), 17. Rundell Winchester, 23. Hector Sam (6. Toric Robinson 58th), 24. Akeem Benjamin.
Unused substitutes - 16. Javon Sample (G), 4. Omar Charles, 19. Dwight Pope, 15. Kaydion Gabriel.
Coach - Terry Fenwick.
W Connection - 21. Jelani Archibald, 19. Leslie Joel Russell (C), 25. Christian Ocoro Viveros (Yellow Card), 24. Joao Ananias Jordao Jr. (Yellow Card), 2. Kurt Frederick, 40. Jomal Williams, 28. Jhon Stevin Reyes Lopez, 27. Yefer Steven Lozano (17. Jamal Clarence 65th), 26. Stefano Rijssel (10. Joevin Jones 60th), 14. Hashim Arcia (65. Neil Benjamin Jr. 80th), 31. Jerrel Britto.
Unused substitutes - 22. Aquelius Sylvester, 4. Daneil Cyrus, 15. Mekeil Williams, 39. Alvin Jones, 13. Devaughn Elliot.
Coach - Stuart Charles Fevrier.
Match Referee - Rodphin Harris.