Stars floors Central with million dollar punch; Rangers stun Caledonia
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
Nine straight wins and 15 consecutive unbeaten games; but that might count for nothing now for Central FC.
The “Couva Sharks” were contenders for the Pro League’s million dollar first prize at kick off last night. Now, even their chance of a top two finish and a place in next year’s CONCACAF Champions League is in jeopardy after a typically emphatic double from Trevin Caesar paced North East Stars to a 2-1 win over Central at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The result saw Central slip to third as Point Fortin Civic, who whipped San Juan Jabloteh 3-0 in Couva, skipped into second spot last night. Defence Force poses the bigger long-term threat to Central, though.
Veteran Defence Force captain and right back Cory Rivers scored arguably his most important goal for the defending champions as he slammed home a late winner, two minutes into extra time, to see off Police FC in Couva.
The result brought the “Teteron Boys” level on 38 points with Central although the latter team has a better goal difference. DIRECTV W Connection leads the standings with 45 points and has just three games remaining. Two of those outstanding matches will be against Defence Force and they will decide the destination of the 2013/14 Pro League trophy.
At present, Defence Force has three games in hand apart from the two meetings with Connection. If coach Ross Russell’s men win those, then a win and draw against Connection would cap the most remarkable title chase of Trinidad and Tobago’s professional era.
Two years ago, a youthful Connection team pipped T&TEC to the crown on the final day of the season. But Connection did not lose its vice-captain to a heart attack in mid-season or take a month off from football duties to tackle a spiralling murder rate.
Connection is deservedly first at present; the league table does not lie. But it would take a heart of stone to not warm to Defence Force’s remarkable race.
At the other end of the table, there was an emotional moment too as bottom placed St Ann’s Rangers snapped a 16-match winless streak with a shock 3-2 triumph against Caledonia AIA at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
After 19 league games under former coach Gilbert Bateau, Rangers had three points. Since Anthony Streete’s return, the St Ann’s based squad is unbeaten from two league games as a draw against Jabloteh was followed by last night’s result.
Even Streete would have a hard time convincing anyone that yesterday’s triumph was wholly manufactured on the training ground, though. Not after Kennedy Isles’ stunning opener.
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