Joe Public to salvage optimism in CCL group stage
ttproleague.com
Bmobile Joe Public will attempt to salvage hope when it hosts Guatemalan side Municipal on Thursday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Trinidad in Group B action of the 2010-2011 CONCACAF Champions’ League.
The Pro League club managed a 1-1 draw against the Guatemalan side in the first leg and coach Derek King looks to Thursday’s match as the turning point.
“Hopefully the public can see a much better performance,” King said.
“We have three games to go with a maximum nine points. We are going all out in attempts to earn a spot in advancing out of the group stage. We are going to take each game at a time and hope that the other teams drop points.”
It’s expected to be a difficult clash for the Trinidadian side, as Municipal, with just two points in third on the Group B standings following 2 draws and one defeat are also desperate wins and stands within a mathematical chance of securing second position.
MLS club Columbus Crew leads Group B with 9 points from four games with its latest result a 1-0 win over Mexican Club Santos Laguna on Tuesday. Santos follows in second with 7 points from four games.
Joe Public will have to record victories at home to Municipal, away to Santos and at home to Columbus in their remaining matches while hoping for a slump by Santos and a continued poor run by Municipal if it was to advance past the group stage.
Joe Public were hammered 5-2 at home by Santos in their first group match before eking out the 1-1 draw away to Municipal with winger Micah Lewis scoring a 90th minute equalizer. They then followed with a disappointing 3-0 defeat at Columbus in their last outing.
King blamed lapses in concentration for the defeat after holding the MLS club goalless at the break.
“We had to be disciplined against Columbus and we showed that in the first half,” said the Joe Public coach. “But individual defensive errors cost us to conceded three goals in around five minutes. And that’s because of lapse in concentration by our players. We are now trying our best to rectify this problem ahead of our remaining games.”
King will be without suspended defender Carlyle Mitchell while instrumental midfielder Trent Noel could also be unavailable due to injury.
However King remains confident. The former Trinidad and Tobago international defender said its very important that the Lions do well in their remaining matches as they represent the entire Caribbean in the CONCACAF Champions’ League.
