Moruga FC secured a spot in the second round of the Southern Football Association League Cup after disposing of last year’s beaten finalist Marabella Family Crisis Centre 4-1 on aggregate at the end of their home-and-away series.
In the first-leg meeting, Moruga got goals from Neil Maharaj, Nigel John and Amin Julien to cancel out Ghymo Harper’s lone reply for Marabella Family at Ben Lomond Recreation Ground on Wednesday September 10.
And in the return-leg at Moruga, the host piped Marabella 1-0 with Jason Julien the scorer to set up a second-round meeting with Centre For Excellence which ousted Cedar Hill United, 5-0 on aggregate.
When both teams met in the opening leg Elton Julien and Keno Belsaco netted for Centre For Excellence in the 2-0 shut-out at Cedar Hill before it won the return contest by default when its opponents failed to show.
Also through the second round is Barrackpore United after winning its fixture by default against Union United FC on both occasions.
Last night, Giants and Penal All Stars were hoping to join the list of second round qualifiers when they took contrasting leads into their second-leg matches against Pt Fortin Civic and Pluck Road respectively.
On Sunday, Giants followed up its Petrotrin Super League Winston St Clair Division 2-1 win over Pt Fortin with a similar margin of victory in their first-leg clash.
For Giants, Akiel Andrews and Johnny Phillip got a goal each while Wrenn Hector, the brother of national midfielder got Pt Fortin’s reply, and Penal All Stars got braces from Andrew Samuel and Daniel Diaz in their 6-1 bashing of Pluck Road.
Diamond United also holds a 2-1 edge over the much fancied University of T&T going into their second-leg match which had to be reschedules due to a mix-up by the officials.
SFA LEAGUE CUP Results
First-Leg
Centre for Excellence 2 (Elton Julien, Keno Belasco) vs Cedar Hill Utd 0
Barrackpore Utd 3 vs Union United FC 2 0—By default
Giants 2 (Akiel Andrews, Johnny Phillip) vs Pt Fortin Civic 1 (Wrenn Hector)
Penal All Stars 6 (Andrew Samuel 2, Daniel Diaz 2, Kurt Hamilton, Arron Joseph) vs Pluck Road 1 (Brian Copie)
Diamond Utd 2 (Duval Moore 2) vs UTT 1 (Jamal Creighton)
Moruga FC 3 (Neil Maharaj, Nigel John, Amin Julien) vs Marabella Family CC 1 (Ghymo Harper)
Second-Leg
Centre for Excellence 3 vs Cedar Hill Utd 0—by default
Barrackpore Utd 3 vs Union United FC 2 0—By default
Moruga 1 (Jason Julien) vs Marabella Family CC 0