Twenty-year-old attacker Pernell Schultz netted his first top flight hat-trick in Caledonia AIA colours on Tuesday night, rallying the Morvant/Laventille club to a 3-1 come-from-behind win over Defence Force in the first match of a Digicel Pro League (DPL) double header contested at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Left full-back and St. Lucia international Kurt Frederick opened the scoring for the "Savonnetta Boys" in the 35th minute before Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 attacker Akeem Garcia doubled the advantage on the 40th minute for a 2-0 cushion at the break.
Coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier's men bagged two more goals in the second period, within a space of three minutes, with forward Jerrel Britto and winger Neil Benjamin Jr. netting in the 73rd and 75th minutes respectively.
But it was San Juan Jabloteh that moved to the top of the standings with a late 1-0 win over North East Stars in the second match at the Macoya venue, plucking revenge against the side that ousted them with a 4-3 penalty win following a goalless draw in the semi-final round of the recently concluded 2014 First Citizens Cup, eventually won by 2013 winners Central FC last month.
Forward Johan Peltier broke the deadlock against his former employers in the 87th minute when he arrived in the area to hit a low drive past goalkeeper Cleon John after the Stars’ defence failed to clear on a Jabloteh attack.
Stars’ central defender Aquil Selby, who argued for a handball against Jabloteh during the goal-scoring play, was ejected by referee Rodphin Harris on a direct red card for using abusive language at the officials following the goal.
Selby wasn’t the first on the night. In the second of four minutes stoppage time of the earlier match between Defence Force and Caledonia, Haitian defender Pierre Hitner was sent off with a direct red card for violent conduct against Army forward Devorn Jorsling.
Referee Gyasi Mc Donald first consulted second assistant referee Johan Corneal before giving the Caledonia defender his marching orders at a point when the Jamaal Shabazz coached-side led comfortably with a 3-1.
Defence Force had grabbed the lead in the 6th minute through a strike from the right by winger Jemel Sebro, with the ball hitting the inside of the far upright before entering the back of Caledonia's 21-year-old Jamaican goalie Rashaun Patterson’s net.
But Caledonia stormed back with a superb hat-trick by Guyanese midfielder Schultz to win the contest 3-1.
Schultz first leveled the score 1-1 in the 9th minute with a powerful crack from above the area that swerved past Defence Force goalie Andre Marchan.
Schultz then gave Caledonia the lead in the 52nd minute before completing his hat-trick four minutes later in the 56th minute.
Caledonia went ahead when Schultz fired in from above the area to find the upper corner although Marhan had some glove to the ball.
Then completed his brilliant night with a sublime chip over the Defence Force goalie after meeting a low diagonal pass inside the area from substitute Jameel Neptune as Caledonia jumped to third on the DPL standings with 6 points from three games but tied with Defence Force and North East Stars.
Jabloteh now leads the standings with 8 points, for the first time under coach Keith Jeffrey, one point head of Central FC, who will host Police FC from 3.30 pm at Gilbert Park in Couva on Sunday 9 November in their Round One Match Day Four clash.
Round One Match Day Four Results on Tuesday
Defence Force 1 (Jemel Sebro 6') vs Caledonia AIA 3 (Pernell Schultz 9', 52', 56'), at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Johan Peltier 87') vs North East Stars 0, at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
W Connection 4 (Kurt Frederick 35', Akeem Garcia 40', Jerrel Britto 73', Neil Benjamin Jr. 75') vs St. Ann's Rangers 0, at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Teams
Defence Force: 28. Andre Marchan, 2. Glynn Franklyn, 4. Dave Long, 5. Devin Jordan, 9. Devorn Jorsling (C), 10. Josimar Belgrave (26. Richard Roy 63rd), 11. Akeem Roach (Yellow Card) (21. Aklie Edwards 63rd), 12. Jemel Sebro, 13. Marvin Jones, 17. Ross Russell Jr., 18. Sean Narcis (99. Jerwyn Balthazar 60th) (Yellow Card)
Unused substitutes: 20. Darryl Trim, 22. Jamali Garcia, 23. Kerry Joseph, 25. Sheldon Clarke (GK)
Coach: Ross Russell
Caledonia AIA: 34. Rashaun Patterson, 2. Taylor Benjamin (4. Conrad Smith 76th), 5. Cristoper Mejia, 8. Keron Bethelmy (15. Franz Husbands 86th), 9. Keyon Edwards, 12. Kareem Joseph, 13. Julian Wade (22. Jameel Neptune 53rd), 16. Pierre Hitner (Red Card), 21. Densill Theobald, 27. Nathan Lewis, 28. Pernell Schultz
Unused substitutes: 10. Hayden Tinto, 32. Kyle Bartholomew, 33. Zane Coker
Coach: Jamaal Shabazz
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh: 30. Shane Mattis, 6. Dario Holmes (Yellow Card), 18. Jevon Morris, 12. Brendon Boucaud, 6. Dario Holmes, 24. Adrian Reid (Yellow Card), 7. Andell Noray (23. Brendon Figuera 85th), 17. Fabian Reid, 8. Newtown Sterling (15. Duran Dilworth 47th), 9. Johan Peltier, 10. Kerry Baptiste (22. Calib Sturge 89th)
Unused substitutes: 13. Coneal Thomas, 1. Glenson Prince (GK), 19. Dillon Kirton, 25. Troy Moses,
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
North East Stars: 22. Cleon John (C), 5. Aquil Selby (Red Card), 8. Adrian Noel (18. Kaashif Thomas 79th), 12. Jayson Joseph, 25. Keryn Navarro, 35. Jordan Devonish (14. Dwane James 69th), 23. Kennedy Hinkson (10. Keron Cummings 69th), 3. Kareem Richardson, 44. Kion Joseph, 38. Jesus Perez, 41. Neveal Hackshaw
Unused substitutes: 1. Stefan Berkeley (GK), 40. Jomoul Francois, 42. Taryk Sampson, 43. Reon Moore
Coach: Angus Eve