D- Day for T&T clubs
DEFENDING T&T Pro League champions Directv W Connection need only to avoid defeat this evening against Sugar Ridge SAP FC of Antigua and Barbuda in their final group match to reach the semi-final stage of the 2015 Caribbean Club Championship, but T&T runner-sup Central FC must beat tough Guyanese champions Alpha United in Providence to advance.
W Connection face SAP FC from 6pm at Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, while in Guyana, Central FC meet Alpha from 4pm at Providence Stadium.
The winners of the four Caribbean group competitions will advance to the semi-finals to be played on May 22. The top four finishers qualify for the 2015-2016 CONCACAF Champions League. Should they get favourable results, the two T&T qualifiers will meet at the semi-final stage.
W Connection were left in pole position to Group One following an unsatisfactory 2-2 draw between Antigua’s SAP F.C . and Guyana Defence Force F.C. on Friday night at Ato Boldon Stadium. The Trinidad and Tobago professionals sit atop the group with three points, gained from Wednesday night’s emphatic 7-1 win over the Guyanese.
Despite the presence of former USA and T&T-based Peter Byers in their squad, SAP FC rarely looked good enough to trouble W Connection, after struggling with the Guyana part-timers.
After scoring a consolation against W Connection, Guyana Defence Force striker Delroy Fraser took his tally to three goals in two matches, when he netted a double against the Antigua and Barbuda champions. Outclassed by W Connection, Guyana Defence Force twice led against an SAP team who were more on their level.
Fraser had the ball in the net as early as the eighth minute, but SAP were quickly level at 1-1 two minutes later through Tevaughn Harriette. The team went in balanced at 1-1, but were seemingly unable to lift their standard.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Fraser putting the Guyanese into a 2 - 1 lead in the 63rd minute, but just five minutes later, SAP F.C were level again at 2-2, through Antigua & Barbuda international Karanja Mack.
Guyana Defence Force had a late chance to pull off a win with a penalty but defender Lauson Limerick failed to find the back of the net from the spot.
Meanwhile, in Guyana, Central FC marginally fell short when beating beat Suriname’s Inter Moengotapoe 2-0 on a pair of Willis Plaza (54th & 58th) goals. It leaves them having to beat Alpha when the teams meet from 4 pm in today’s group decider in Guyana.
On opening night, Alpha beat Inter Moengotapoe 3-0 with former T&T-based Joe Public and Colorado Rapids (USA) striker Gregory Richardson, Guyana international Daniel Wilson and Grenadian international and ex-Tranmere Rovers (England) striker Kithson Bain, all finding the net.