Cunupia FC breathed new life into the race for the $250,000 top prize in the Ascension Invitational Football Tournament Division One on Saturday night after they trounced previously unbeaten leaders Morvant Caledonia AIA 3-0 at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
Kevon “Showtime” Woodley extended his league-best goal tally to 11 with the 44th-minute go-ahead item for Cunupia in the blistering heat, while Hakeem Legall made it 2-0 in the 66th before Michael Darko added the third item two minutes from the final whistle for his fifth goal of the season.
Despite the loss, Morvant Caledonia AIA stayed atop the 12-team table with 24 points from nine matches, two ahead of idle Defence Force, while Cunupia FC improved to third spot with 19 points, level with San Juan Jabloteh and two more than Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, who fell 2-0 at home to Police FC at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground via strikes from Elijah Belgrave (89th) and Jameel Perry (90th).
In the other early match yesterday, Jabloteh whipped Guaya United 3-1 at San Juan North Secondary Ground, Bourg Mulatresse Ground, with Shaquille John scoring in the 20th and 39th minute and Sean Bonval in the 51st for the winners. Jody Allsop got a consolation item for Guaya United in the 92nd minute.
The University of T&T also made a bold statement in the chase for the $100,000 winner’s prize in Division Two with a 7-0 mauling of previous joint-leader San Fernando at the UTT Campus at O’Meara Road, Arima.
Leading the way for UTT were Kevaughn Connell and Dillon Bartholomew with two goals each.
Connell got his items in the 59th and 65th while Bartholomew fired home his items in the 84th and 88th for UTT, who now lead the table with 24 points from ten matches, two ahead of Deportivo PF and San Fernando Giants, who have matches in hand. The trio of Stevon Stoute (13th), Sheldon Nesbitt (79th) and Warren Chase 83rd added the others for UTT.
Results
Division One
Cunupia FC 3 (Kevon Woodley 44th, Hakeem Legall 66th, Michael Darko 88th) v Morvant Caledonia AIA 0
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Shaquille John 20th, 39th, Sean Bonval 51st) v Guaya United 1 (Jody Allsop 92nd)
Police FC 2 (Elijah Belgrave 89th, Jameel Perry 92nd) v TLH Rangers 0
Division Two
UTT 7 (Stevon Stoute 13th, Kevaughn Connell 59th, 65th, Sheldon Nesbitt 79th, Warren Chase 83rd, Dillon Bartholomew 84th, 88th) v San Fernando Giants 0
Harlem Strikers 3 v Marabella Family Crisis Centre 0
Upcoming Fixtures
Division One
Tuesday, September 16
Police FC v Club Sando, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, 8 pm
Wednesday, September 17
Morvant Caledonia AIA v Defence Force, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 4 pm
TLH Rangers v FC Santa Rosa, Phase II, La Horquetta Rec. Grd, 6 pm
Thursday, September 18
QPCC v San Juan Jabloteh, St Mary’s College Grd, Serpentine Rd, St Clair, 4 pm
Division Two
Wednesday, September 18
RSSR FC vs San Fernando Giants, Curepe Rec. Grd, Knowles St, Curepe, 7 pm
Standings
Division One
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. Morvant Caledonia 9 8 0 1 21 9 24
2. Defence Force 9 7 1 1 21 6 22
3. Cunupia FC 10 6 1 3 23 13 19
4. Jabloteh 9 6 1 2 20 13 19
5. T L. H Rangers 9 5 2 2 29 8 17
6. Club Sando 9 4 1 4 16 13 13
7. Santa Rosa 9 3 2 4 14 17 11
8. QPCC 9 2 4 3 11 17 10
9. Police FC 9 3 2 4 17 12 11
10. Guaya United 9 2 0 7 6 21 6
11. Matura ReUnited 9 1 1 7 8 37 4
12. Prison Service 9 0 1 8 7 24 1
Division Two
Teams P W D L F A Pts
1. UTT 10 7 3 0 31 11 24
2. Deportivo 9 7 1 1 43 9 22
3. San F’do Giants 9 7 1 1 26 10 22
4. Police FC 9 6 0 3 12 15 18
5. Harlem Strikers 10 4 1 5 14 22 13
6. Club Sando U/Youths 9 3 3 3 20 18 12
7. Moruga FC 9 3 2 4 14 13 11
8. Erin FC 9 3 1 5 13 19 10
9. Bethel United 9 2 2 5 12 25 8
10. RSSR FC 8 2 1 5 8 12 7
11. P.V/D.M 9 2 1 6 8 17 7
12. Marabella 10 1 0 9 6 36 3