Caledonia AIA of Morvant-Laventille moved four points closer to Digicel Pro League leaders Defence Force on Saturday with a 4-2 win over seventh positioned St. Ann’s Rangers at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Keyon Edwards inspired the Jerry Moe coached-Caledonia with two crucial items following an opening item by Akim Armstrong, all before substitute Sheldon Holder concreted the victory with a perfect strike in the final minute of regulation time.
The win improved Caledonia’s second position on the standings to 29 points—slicing leaders Defence Force (33 points) lead to just four points as the league moves into the third and final round of matches beginning next weekend.
After holding Caledonia at bay for most of the opening half, Rangers slipped up in the 37th minute.
Caledonia stole a 1-0 advantage when unmarked midfielder Akim Armstrong headed down a Miguel Alejandro Romeo corner, swung in from the left, to beat goalkeeper Akel Clarke.
But five minutes inside the second half Rangers wedged themselves back into the game with a 1-1 score.
Midfielder Keifer Edwards directed a squared Devon Modeste past goalkeeper Shemel Louision in a play initiated by right-back Ryan O’Neil.
Rangers were unfortunate not to add another in the 63rd minute when Modeste acrobatic volley off a deep cross crashed onto the root of the upright.
Two minutes later Keyon Edwards had Caledonia in front again 2-1, when he struck his first on the night, blasting into an exposed net from a loose ball on the left after goalkeeper Clarke remained seated in the centre of the area after intercepting a Holder charge at goal. A clear error by Clarke who should have signaled an injury, but instead he was replaced by Zane Coker.
Rangers then leveled the scores again in the 79th minute when Modeste latched onto a through-ball down the right before rounded goalkeeper Loiusion and hitting into a free net from an angle for a 2-2 score.
Excitement flowed as Edwards (K) completed his second to send Caledonia in front a third time by the 81st minute when he headed an Aubrey David corner from the left past Coker for a hard worked 3-2 score.
And in the 90th minute substitute Holder unleashed a perfect strike past Coker and into the far netting to complete the 4-2 Caledonia win and send Rangers packing.
Rangers goal-scorer Modeste had a great opportunity to level the scores a minute before Holder’s sealing item, but executed a poor header at Tyrone Charles perfectly placed cross, heading wide.
Results
Caledonia AIA 4—2 St. Ann’s Rangers
Akim Armstrong 38’, Keyon Edwards 65’, 81’, Sheldon Holder 90’ ; Keifer Edwards 50’, Devon Modeste 79’
Teams
Caledonia AIA—Shemel Louision, Stephan David (capt.), Aubrey David, Collin Nelson, Trevin Caesar (Jamille Boatswain 81st) (Yellow Card), Keyon Edwards, Kareem Joseph, Akim Armstrong (Nical Stephens 87th), Akeem Thomas, Miguel Alejandro Romeo, Nathan Lewis (Sheldon Holder 58th).
Unused substitutes—Glenroy Samuel, Aquil Selby, Odelle Armstrong, Shemol Trimmingham.
Coach—Jerry Moe.
St. Ann’s Rangers—Akel Clarke (Zane Coker 69th), Mikhail Awai (capt.), Musa Nakhid, Tyrone Charles, Devon Modeste, Keifer Edwards, Kurdell Brathwaite (Cecil Jeffrey 58th), Dwane James, Muhammed Nakhid, Kadeem Drayton, Ryan O’Neil.
Unused substitutes—Alfie James, Marvin Lee, Jovon Paradassie, Shem Alexander.