Striker Devorn Jorsling scored an 81st minute winner that saw Caledonia AIA of Morvant-Laventille win the 2012 Trinidad & Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) FA Trophy final when beating the Defence Force 1-0, yesterday, at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, in Marabella.
A former soldier, Jorsling led the Defence Force to the 2010 League title in the Digicel Pro League, where he was top-scorer. Jorsling was later released by the Army to take up a contract in the second tier of USA football with FC Tampa Bay. He returned home this season and joined Caledonia.
It was the second FA trophy win in four years for Caledonia after edging W Connection 3-2 in the 2008 final. It was the second piece of silverware for Caledonia during the 2011-2012 season.
They won the First Citizens Cup last October, and also earned a pound of gold worth $100,000 when winning the Kashif & Shangai tournament in Guyana.
Jorsling fires Caledonia to FA title.
By Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Former Defence Force member Devorn Jorsling came back to haunt his old employers as his late strike earned a 1-0 win for Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA in the T&T Football Federation FA Trophy final at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Sunday night.
Jorsling, who led the Defence Force to the Digicel Pro League title during the 2010 season before signing for Orlando City after which he signed for his home-town club Caledonia, got the deciding item in the 81st minute. A pass from midfielder Ataullah Guerra saw Jorsling elude defender Devin Jordan and firing past goalkeeper Kevin “Barthez” Graham.
Caledonia which also won the FA trophy in 2008, earned $60,000, 23 gold medals and the prestigious trophy while a disappointed Defence Force, six-time winners’ had to settle for $40,000 and 23 silver medals.
The Ross Russell-coached Defence Force started better and looked the likelier of the two teams to score as they dominated an out-of-sync Caledonia.
But despite possession, the “Teteron Boys” had nothing to show at the interval mainly due to poor finishing from Richard “Shaka” Roy and Kevon Carter, and some good goalkeeping from Caledonia’s Guyanese international shot-stopper in Ronson Williams.
The second-half was a much more competitive affair and just when it looked as though penalty-kicks would be required to decide the outcome, Jorsling struck.
Speaking after the win an elated Jorsling said it was a great feeling to win even though he was filled with mixed emotions.
“Seeing my former team-mates on the other side of the field sad was not a good thing, but as a professional player you have to put those emotions aside when you step onto the field,” added 28-year-old Jorsling.
Last week in the semifinal round at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Caledonia which is still in the fray for the Digicel Pro League title also won 1-0 over W Connection, FA champions in 1999, 2000 and 2002, with midfielder Guerra netting the lone goal in the 35th minute while Defence Force held on for a 3-2 triumph over 2004 winner and Super League club, WASA after taking a 2-0 lead.