Central and Connection set final date in Caribbean Championship.
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CONCACAF Bound
TT Pro League clubs Central FC and W Connection will renew their rivalry on Sunday 24 May when they clash for the first time on the international stage from 6 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in the final of the 2015 Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship.
Goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams produced three first class saves on penalty kicks to help 10-man Central FC outscore Haiti’s Don Bosco FC 3-1 after 120 minutes of a keenly contested goalless tie in semifinal one at the Ato Boldon Stadium on Friday night.
In semifinal two, W Connection, two-time (2006 and 2009) Caribbean Club champions, avoided extra time and penalty kicks thanks to a second half Hashim Arcia strike to edge top Jamaica side Montego Bay United 1-0 to set up an all-Trinidad and Tobago Caribbean final on Sunday.
With their semifinal wins, the two Pro League clubs also secured automatic berths at the 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL), which is set to begin in August with the confederations top club teams out of Mexico, the United States and Central America.
Don Bosco and Montego Bay United, meanwhile, will meet from 4 pm on Sunday at the Couva venue in the third place match for the third and final Caribbean berth at next season’s CCL, while Central, the 2014-2015 Digicel Pro League champions, and W Connection, league runners-up, will contest the final for the right of Caribbean kings.
Central however, will be without suspended key striker Willis Plaza for Sunday’s final against their bitter rivals, spelling trouble for head coach Terry Fenwick, who is already without the services of injured forward Dwight Quintero and may be forced to utilise midfielder/s Ataullah Guerra and/or Jason Marcano higher up the field.
Plaza, a 27-year-old T&T international, was sent off in the 67th minute for a second yellow card in a space of five minutes after he struck left-back Massigno Joseph in the face during his attempt to attack the Don Bosco box. Jamaican referee Karl Tyrell, who booked the forward earlier for a foul on right-back Jean Junior Brenus, spared no mercy when he reduced the “Couva Sharks” to ten men.
But thanks to clinical finishing by Elton John, Leston Paul and Uriah Bentick from the spot and three highlight reel saves from T&T goalkeeper Williams to deny Don Bosco’s Benchy Estama, Porky Thermidor and Jean Schwetzer Saint-Hubert, Central are into Sunday’s final ahead of the Haitian side that were worthy opponents. Defender Akeem Benjamin had the only miss for Central while Junior Delva scored Don Bosco’s only goal from the spot.
Similarly, W Connection also had their work cut out against Montego Bay United despite a number of early chances, which included forward Jerrel Britto and midfielder Jomal Williams troubling the side netting and goalkeeper Barrett having to make a couple saves.
Montego Bay United, the reigning Jamaica Red Stripe Premier League champions, who are in their league final next week against Arnett Gardens, were strong, fast and very physical.
However Montego Bay United, inclusive of Jamaica national team forwards Dino Williams, 25, and Allan Ottley, 22, midfielder Jermaine Woozencroft, 22, goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett, 30, and defender Owayne Gordon in their starting line-up, were punished on a mistake.
Forward Arcia fired Connection in front in the 69th minute for a valuable 1-0 lead with his seventh goal of the 2015 tournament in just three matches.
It was from a flighted back pass by Montego Bay United’s left winger Ronaldo Rodney from near the half-line that placed goalkeeper Barrett in boiling water and Arcia was able to swoop in an capitalise.
Ten minutes later W Connection goalkeeper Julani Archibald produced superb one-handed save to equal a half volley by Gordon to preserve coach Stuart Charles Fevrier’s side’s lead.
Connection, who were joint Caribbean winners in 2001, 2002 and 2013, when no final rounds were played, are hoping to achieve Caribbean supremacy in 2015 after a disappointing domestic season, which only includes winning the Digicel Charity Shield.
Meanwhile Central, winners of the League, First Citizens Cup and the Rawle Fletcher, Akeem Adams and Kevon Carter trophies for winning each round of the league, are equally ambitious of Caribbean glory. The “Couva Sharks” are also in the final of the Digicel Pro Bowl against Police FC on Friday 29 March.
Semifinal Round Results
Don Bosco FC 0 vs Central FC 0
(Central FC won the match 3-1 on kicks from the penalty mark)
Kicks from the penalty mark
Central FC 3 Don Bosco United 1
Elton John (scored) Benchy Estama (saved)
Leston Paul (scored) Junior Delva (scored)
Akeem Benjamin (missed) Porky Thermidor (saved)
Uriah Bentick (scored) Jean Schwetzer Saint-Hubert (saved)
Semifinal Two
Montego Bay United 0 vs W Connection 1 (Hashim Arcia 69’)
Upcoming Games - Final
Sunday 24 May
Central FC vs W Connection—6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Third Place Match
Don Bosco FC vs Montego Bay United—4 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Teams
Don Bosco FC: 22.Jaafson Origene; 11.Jean Junior Brenus, 5.Canès Jean Charles (C), 15.Jimmy Sara (29.Junior Philemont 109th), 21.Constant Junior Monuma (Yellow Card), 23.Benchy Estama, 16.Samuel Desroches (7.Porky Thermidor 114th), 17.Venel Saint-Fort, 9.Junior Delva, 8.Kerlins Georges (28.Jean Schwetzer Saint-Hubert 80th), 14.Massigno Joseph (Yellow Card)
Unused substitutes: 2.Alain Francois, 12.Calixte Félix Alande, 10.Dumy Fede, 27.Jean Saint-Hubert
Coach: Jean Junior Natoux
Central FC: 21.Jan-Michael Williams; 2.Elton John, 4.Uriah Bentick, 5.Akeem Benjamin, 7.Jason Marcano, 8.Sean De Silva (11.Darren Mitchell 62nd), 10.Marvin Oliver (C) (19.Nathaniel Garcia 88th), 12.Jamal Jack (6.Leston Paul 54th), 15.Kaydion Gabriel, 33.Willis Plaza (Y+Y=Red Card), 45.Ataullah Guerra
Unused substitutes: 3.Keion Goodridge, 17.Marcelle Francois, 14.Jean-Luc Rochford
Coach: Terry Fenwick
Semifinal One Match Officials
Referee: Karl Tyrell (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Richard Washington (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Kuan Budd (GRN)
Fourth Official: Kimbell Ward (SKN)
Match Commissioner: Raymond Anderson (JAM)
Teams
Montego Bay United: 32.Jacomeno Barrett; 8.Dwayne Ambusley (C),16.Owayne Gordon, 14.Orlando McBayne, 7.Allan Ottey (Yellow Card), 3.Ladale Richie, 17.Ronaldo Rodney, 6.Winston Wilkinson (Yellow Card), 10.Dino Williams, 19.Lesly St. Fluer, 11.Jermaine Woozencroft (24.Graeme Green 82nd)
Unused substitutes: 1.Garen Downie, , 13.Cornelius Henry, 5.Dwayne Holmes, 15.Kemiro James, 20.Keneil Kirlew, 4.Cordel Simpson
Coach: Dr. Dean Weatherly
W Connection: 18.Julani Archibald; 3.Gerrard Williams, 40.Jomal Williams (25.Christian Viveros 92nd), 5.Mekeil Williams (C) (Yellow Card), 39.Alvin Jones, 9.Shahdon Winchester, 27.Shannon Gomez, 26.Maurice Ford, 14.Hashim Arcia (20.Christian Rodriguez 84th), 36.Triston Hodge (13.Devaughn Elliot 46th), 12.Jerrel Britto
Unused substitutes: 8.Stiven Reyes Lopez, 22.Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 65.Neil Benjamin Jr., 30.Aaquil Campbell
Coach: Stuart Charles Fevrier
Semifinal Two Match Officials
Referee: Adrian Skeete (BAR)
Assistant Referee 1: Ramon Louisville (SUR)
Assistant Referee 2: Adrian Goddard (BAR)
Fourth Official: Sherwin Moore (GUY)
Match Commissioner: Hubert Isenia (CUW)