Central start Caribbean defence with a 6-0 crushing of Scholars International.
ttproleague.com.
Defending Caribbean Club champions Central FC have sent a warning to hosts Montego Bay United by drubbing 10-man Cayman Islands team Scholars International 6-0 at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Jamaica on Friday night.
The win lifted Central atop the three-team Group 3 of the 2016 Caribbean Club Championship, ahead on goal difference and setting the stage for a mega clash on Sunday night at the same venue against Montego Bay United who whipped Scholars United 4-0 on Wednesday.
Prior to flying out to Jamaica, Central FC managing director and former Soca Warriors 2006 World Cup defender Brent Sancho said, “I would go as far as saying that whoever wins the (Montego Bay versus Central FC) game in Jamaica, will go on to be the Caribbean champions.”
Only the top team out of the group advances into the semi-final round. The two semi-final round winners and the third-place winners of the Club Championship will secure the three Caribbean berths at the 2016/17 Concacaf Champions League.
Veteran midfielder Jason Marcano, who has been recalled to the Trinidad and Tobago national team for the March 19 friendly international at Grenada, grabbed a second half, netting in the 64th and 91st minutes, for the “Couva Sharks”.
But Tobagonian defender Jamal Jack had opened the scoring from as early as the 2nd minute and on 16 minutes Ghanaian midfielder Michael Yaw Darko made it 2-0—a cushion the Dale Saunders-coached team took in at the break.
Sancho said Scholars had “parked the bus” making it difficult for the Trinidad and Tobago Pro League champions.
Sancho added that Central stuck at it and with the perseverance and some tactical changes in the second half, the “Couva Sharks” were able to achieve the healthy score line to move within a point of securing a semi-finals spot in the Caribbean Club Championship.
Midfielder Darren Mitchell and Mickaeel Jem Gordon joined fellow Tobagonian Jack on the scoresheet with goals 68th and 89th minutes, respectively.
Scholars International had a defender sent off on a second yellow card with 20 minutes remaining.
After the game Central posted on their Fan Club Facebook account that defender and new T&T national team call-up Andre Ettienne had picked up a suspected dislocated shoulder but Sancho cleared the air on Saturday morning, saying it wasn’t dislocated, dispelling doubts over the availability of the hard-tackling Ettienne for Sunday’s fixture against Montego Bay United.
Sancho however, expressed dissatisfaction in not being able to utilise Trinidad and Tobago winger Rundell Winchester, who travelled to Jamaica as part of Central’s 20-man squad. The 22-year-old Tobagonian has returned to Central following a loan stint United States club Portland Timbers B but for the past few weeks has been in the waiting lane for his international transfer certificate (ITC).
Results
Montego Bay United 4 (Dwayne Gordon 25’, 73’, 80’, Courtney Duval Own Goal 42’) vs Scholars International 0
Central FC 6 (Jamal Jack 2’, Michael Yaw Darko 16’, Jason Marcano 64’, 90’+1, Darren Mitchell 68’, Mickaeel Jem Gordon 89’) vs Scholars International 0
