Joe Public draws 2-2 on injury time equalizer

Noel settled a cross from Micah Lewis near the top of the area and time and space to curl a right-footed shot back across goal past goalkeeper Luis Diego Sequeira in the 92nd minute.

The result sends the Trinidadian side back to the Caribbean for the second leg on August 5 with a clear advantage. Joe Public is trying to repeat its performance of two years ago, when it upset the New England Revolution with a pair of victories in the Preliminary Round two years ago to reach the Group Stage, where it lost five of six games.

Brujas, making its Champions League debut, appeared headed for victory after Jose Luis Cordero scored on a howling mistake by Joe Public goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel in the 66th minute.

Cordero curled a free kick from the right side into the area, where Samuel came off his line and tried to punch the ball clear, but only deflected it and let it slip over him for the go-ahead goal.

Both sides produced a handful of chances, with Brujas having slightly better possession.

Brujas went ahead 62 seconds after the opening kickoff when Cordero struck a low cross through the area and Andres Nunez was able to redirect with a single touch from just outside the 6 past Samuel.

Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide nearly equalized in the 12th minute when he ran onto a loose ball and struck a fierce right-footed shot off the far post. He then set up the tying goal a minute later, curling a left-footed cross into the middle of the area, where an unmarked Kerry Baptiste was able to drive a header past Sequeira.

Brujas appeared more dangerous in the second half with Cordero redirecting a cross from William Sunsing into the feet of Samuel in the 51st and Nunez sending a header just wide of the right post in the 57th.

The game was only Brujas' second since the Costa Rican Clausura finished in April. It lost its Apertura opener to Aguilas 1-0 on Saturday.

Joe Public entered the match not having played since July 9, when the TT Pro League broke for its cup season. It faces the North East Stars on Saturday in its quarterfinal match of the Trinidad & Tobago Goal Shield.

Game Recap:

Brujas 2 v. 2 Joe Public.
Andrés Nunez 2' (José Cordero), José Cordero 66' (Glenroy Samuel) ; Kerry Baptiste 13 (Yu Hoshide), Trent Noel 90' (Micah Lewis)

Teams

Joe Public: - 22.Glenroy Samuel, 8.Trent Noel, 19.Carlyle Mitchell, 20.Makan Hislop, 3.Keion Goodridge, 4.Kerry Baptiste (capt) (Yellow 90), 7.Hayden Tinto (Yellow 31) (9.Conrad Smith 80th), 14.Kareem Young, 10.Yu Hoshide (28.Marcus Joseph 69th - Yellow 69), 34.Jevon Morris (Yellow 44), 11.Andre Toussaint (Yellow 70) (27.Micah Lewis 74th).

Coach: Derek King (Trinidad & Tobago).

Brujas: - 1.Luis Sequeira, 14.Andrés Nunez, 15.Heiner Mora, 29.Esteban Maitland (capt) (16.Jamerson Scott 63rd), 2.Roy Smith, 11.José Cordero (13.Brandon Poltronieri 77th - Yellow 83), 21.Keylor Soto, 10.Josimar Arias, 26.Fabricio Chavarría, 32.William Sunsing, 24.Steven Calderon (Yellow 69) (27.Cristian Lagos 80th).

Coach: M. Wright (Costa Rica).

VIDEO Highlights:| Brujas v. Joe Public.

Officials:

Juan Guerra (Guatemala).
Hermenerito Leal (Guatemala).
Cesar Ruano (Guatemala).
Jeffrey Solis (Costa Rica).

General Game Stats

Brujas - Joe Public
Shots on goal 5 - 5
Shots wide 4 - 5
Fouls 6 - 8
Corner Kicks 3 - 1
Offsides 1 - 1
Possession 52% - 48%

Venue:
Estadio Eladio Rosabal Cordero Heredia.

Noel earns Joe Public 2-2 draw.
T&T Guardian Reports.
 
Soca Warriors midfielder Trent Noel scored an injury time equaliser as Digicel Pro League champions, bmobile Joe Public rallied for a 2-2 draw away to Costa Rican club, Brujas on Wednesday night in their first-leg preliminary round of the Concacaf Champions League.

Noel settled a cross from winger Micah Lewis near the top of the area and with time and space, curled a right-footed shot back across goal past goalkeeper Luis Diego Sequeira in the 92nd minute to stun the home crowd at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.

The result means the CFU Club Championship runner-up needs only a 0-0 draw in the second-leg at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on August 5 to advance to the Group Stages.

The Eastern Lions, coached by Ralph “Arab” Nelson and Derek King is trying to repeat its performance of two years ago, when it upset the New England Revolution with a pair of victories in the preliminary round two years ago to reach the Group Stage, where it lost five of six matches.

Brujas went ahead in the second minute when Jose Luis Cordero struck a low cross through the area and Andres Nunez redirected the shot past goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel.

Joe Public Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide nearly equalised in the 12th minute when he ran onto a loose ball and struck a fierce right-footed shot off the far post.

However, a minute later, Hoshdie curled a left-footed cross into the middle of the area, where an unmarked Kerry Baptiste was able to head past Sequeira to leave the score 1-1.

Brujas looked more dangerous in the second-half and appeared headed for victory after Cordero got his second goal on a howler of a mistake by goalkeeper Samuel in the 66th minute for a 2-1 lead.

Cordero curled a free kick from the right side into the area, where Samuel came off his line and tried to punch the ball clear, but let it slip over him for the go-ahead goal.

But with the seconds ticking away, Noel beat Sequeira from the edge of the area with a gem of a strike. Joe Public will now focus on local rival, DirecTV North East Stars tomorrow in its quarterfinal match of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield.

Results

Brujas 2 (Jose Luis Cordero 2nd, 66th) vs Joe Public 2 (Kerry Baptiste 13th, Trent Noel 90+3).

Marathon 3 (Claudio Labarinas 25th pen, 59th, Milton Palacios 35th) vs Tauro FC 0.

Seattle Sounders 1 (Fredy Montero 60th) vs Metapan 0.