Larry Gomes Stadium, MALABAR - Richard Roy converted a stoppage time penalty to lift the Defence Force to a 1-0 win over Japs North East Stars in their 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League (DPL) opening match on Saturday.
What seemed destined for a goalless end, changed in the 90th minute when referee Cecil Hinds pointed to the spot after Jamali Garcia's diving header, off a Ross Russell Jr corner, struck the arm of Stars' midfielder Jayson Joseph near the goal-line.
Joseph was shown a yellow card and a red card followed to midfielder Jeromie Williams, ejected by Hinds for dissent.
Roy, who had earlier replaced forward Devorn Jorsling in the 76th minute, stepped to the task and confidently hit to the left of goalkeeper Cleon John for the late Round One Match Day One winner.
Simultaneously at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin, home side Point Fortin Civic surrendered to a 2-1 defeat against Caledonia AIA.
Civic took a 1-0 advantage in the 48th minute through a strike by midfielder Akeem Redhead, but Caledonia fired back twice in a space of nine minutes to take a 2-1 lead which lasted till the end.
Caledonia midfielders Purnell Schultz, in the 50th minute, and Keyon Edwards, in the 58th minute, doing the damage on enemy soil.
North East Stars meanwhile, weren't far from home when the welcomed Defence Force east, at the Malabar venue.
The Stars, led by coach Angus Eve, a former soldier, dominated chances but failed to beat new Defence Force goalie Andre Marchan.
Marchan, a former Trinidad and Tobago youth and Under-23 goalie, starred on his Defence Force debut.
Starting ahead of veteran goalkeeper Kevin Graham and Sheldon Clarke, Marchan was up to the task whenever called upon.
The 24-year-old was at full stretch midway through the first half when he pushed over a Kennedy Hinkson free kick and later thwarted a Joseph attempt.
Marchan made another take in the 74th minute when Stars’ substitute forward Tyrone Charles failed to put enough height on a chipped attempt towards goal.
Three minutes later Charles whipped in a free-kick but Marchan was again at his best, pushing the attempt wide before gathering a low return cross by Neveal Hackshaw.
But it was new Stars recruit Taryk Sampson that wasted the best opportunity in the 61st minute, heading over-bar off substitute Kareem Richardson's perfect cross from the right.
North East Stars will next travel to the Mahaica Oval on Saturday 4 October against Point Fortin Civic as both sides chase their first win of the season, and simultaneously at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Defence Force and Police FC will meet in a clash of the forces.
San Juan Jabloteh, coming off last Friday's goalless draw against Police, will tackle St. Ann's Rangers from 6 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Friday 3 October in the first match of a double header, which features a Couva derby between last season's DPL champions W Connection and runners-up Central FC.
Two Saturdays ago W Connection edged Central 1-0 to retain the Digicel Charity Shield, but the "Sharks", led by new coach Zoran Vranes, were superb in their opening league match last Friday by hammering Rangers 7-0.
Pro League 2014-2015 Round One Match Day One Results.
Point Fortin Civic 1—2 Caledonia AIA
Akeem Redhead 48' ; Purnell Schultz 50', Keyon Edwards 58'
North East Stars 0—1 Defence Force
Richard Roy 90'+1 (PEN)
Teams
North East Stars: 22. Cleon John, 5. Aquil Selby, 6. Jeromie Williams (Red Card), 12. Jayson Joseph (Yellow Card), 14. Dwane James, 23. Kennedy Hinkson (10. Keron Cummings 71st), 25. Keryn Navarro, 38. Jesus Perez (3. Kareem Richardson 59th), 41. Neveal Hackshaw, 42. Taryk Sampson (9. Tyrone Charles 66th).
Unused substitutes: 1. Stefan Berkeley (GK), 15. Glenton Wolfe, 18. Kaashif Thomas, 35. Jordan Devnish.
Coach: Angus Eve.
Defence Force FC: 28. Andre Marchan, 4. Dave Long, 8. Curtis Gonzales, 9. Devorn Jorsling (26. Richard Roy 76th), 5. Devin Jordan (Yellow Card), 10. Josimar Belgrave, 12. Jemel Sebro (11. Akeem Roach 59th), 17. Ross Russell Jr., 18. Sean Narcis (14. Corey Rivers 55th), 21. Aklie Edwards, 22. Jamali Garcia.
Unused substitutes: 16. Kellon Serrette, 27. Anthony Charles, 31. Thurlani George.
Coach: Marvin Gordon.
Match Referee: Cecil Hinds.