A 90th minute Glen Sutton goal on Friday night had T&TEC FC in full luminosity, a total contrast to its season, after the cellar positioned side held Digicel Pro League leaders Defence Force to a 1-1 draw on Friday night.
Leading league goalscorer Devorn Jorsling fired the soldiers ahead in the 14th minute beating goalkeeper Akini Adams from close range for an early 1-0 advantage after he was played towards goal by a neat Jerwyn Balthazar heeled pass.
But Jorsling’s 13th league item wasn’t enough to guide Defence Force to maximum points in the first of a Round Two Match Day Seven double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
A determined Sutton run in the final minute of regulation time ended with the substitute T&TEC midfielder hitting into an open net from close up after dismantling the soldiers defense to level the scores 1-1 as coach Dexter Cyrus and company erupted into joy.
However the rare point failed to nudge the ‘Electric Boys’ off the bottom of the table, with now just 5 points—from 14 games—at the end of Round Two.
Meantime Defence Force still holding grip at the top with 33 points, could see its 7-point advantage reduced by second positioned Caledonia AIA (26 points) based on the Morvant-Laventille club’s result against St. Ann’s Rangers from 5pm at the Marvin Lee Stadium on Saturday.
While defending champs DIRECTV W Connection kept themselves in the race with 25 points in third following an impressive 5-2 comeback win over Police FC in the second match of Friday’s double header at the Couva venue.
Had Jorsling found the back of the net again in the 21st minute, it would have been an entirely different story.
But instead with the goal at his mercy thanks to a perfectly played Ross Russell Jr. cross from the left, Jorsling guided miserably wide off the right boot in search of his favoured left.
T&TEC’s efforts to level the score before the half saw teenager Nathaniel Garcia struck a freekick overbar in the 29th minute, and in the 38th minute his crack at goal from a squared Brent Garcia free kick was tamed by goalkeeper Kevin Graham.
And eleven minutes into the second period T&TEC goalie provided a superb single handed stop to deny Russell Jr. and later made two shutouts against Army substitute Josimar Belgrave that kept the ‘Electric Boys’ alive.
In the 76th minute substitutes Roy and Belgrave teamed up with Belgrave having a go at goal, and in the 80th minute Adams made his second consecutive save against the Army midfielder. Roy too had a good effort on goal in injury time, only to be stunned by a Eustace Darius clearance.
T&TEC later celebrated a point, an improvement from its 3-2 defeat against the soldiers back in Round One with two late goals, but could have celebrated much more this time had substitute Sylvester Teesdale put away an opportunity in the 66th minute. A poor clearance by the soldiers landed the ball comfortably for Teesdale but his curling effort towards the right upper corner was perfect height and pace for a comfortable Graham gather.
Results
T&TEC FC 1—1 Defence Force
Glen Sutton 90’ ; Devorn Jorsling 14’
Teams
T&TEC FC—Akini Adams, Angus John, Cebastian Bailey, Adarayll John, Eustace Darius, Daniel Garcia, Tigana Sparks (Keeron Benito 68th), Bevon Bass (Glen Sutton 79th), Brent Garcia, Givon John (Sylvester Teesdale 54th), Nathaniel Garcia.
Coach—Dexter Cyrus.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Glynn Franklyn, Keston Williams, Devorn Jorsling (Richard Roy 73rd), Ross Russell Jr. (Josimar Belgrave 57th), Rodell Elcock, Jemel Sebro, Jerwyn Balthazar, Aklie Edwards, Sean Narcis (Jahvon Neptune 85th).
Coach—Marvin Gordon.
Referee: Cecile Hinds.