EZEKIEL KESAR scored late, after coming off the bench moments earlier, as Miscellaneous Police FC picked up a first win at the 2024 CONCACACF Caribbean Cup after recording a 2-1 victory over Jamaica’s Arnett Gardens, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, on Thursday.
Looking frustrated with the teams level at 1-1 and time running out, the Police head coach made a double change bringing on Kesar and Kareem Freitas, while removing earlier goals-scorer Joevin Jones and Kevon Woodley—who had headed onto the post in the first half.
And the Police head coach’s intuition bore dividends. Another substitute, Kadeem Hutchinson, had his low shot parried by Arnette Gardens goalie Richardo White, leaving Kesar to net the winner after running in to score into an unguarded net from close in.
It had been end-to-end action before then, particularly in the first half which ended goalless. The Arnette Gardens forwards were a constant threat, even hitting the woodwork in both halves.
Under pressure, forward Warner Brown also trickled a shot marginally wide of Police goalie Adrian Foncette and the foot of the upright, as the Jamaicans enjoyed a bright start, while at the other end Woodley headed onto the crossbar after being served with an Alvin Jones cross.
Police had the best start after the interval, when just two minutes in veteran Joevin Jones opened the scoring with a heavily deflected shot, taking a lay-off from midfielder Mark Ramdeen and seeing his shot lopped off a defender and past the goalkeeper.
“I think it was an important goal to get us going in the second half and happily we came out with a victory which we needed,” Jones stated afterwards.
That lead would last just two minutes as Brown would outpace Police and evade Robert Primus’ desperate late lunge, before putting the ball wide of Foncette to restore parity in the 49th minute.
Both teams had chances to go ahead. Police midfielder Jabari Mitchell bore down hard on the Arnette Gardens goal and tested goalie White, who fended off his shot from wide-right.
And Foncette would also have to bring out big saves to keep out both Arnette Gardens captain Jamone Shepherd and Brown from scoring again. That left the way open for Kesar’s late goal to pluck three vital points.
Police FC improved its record to a win, over Arnette Gardens (2-1), a 1-1 draw with Haitian champions Real Hope FC and a 4-1 loss to Jamaican champions Cavalier FC.
Police FC now shifts focus to next Thursday when taking on another Jamaicans team, Mount Pleasant Football Academy, its final match of the group stage at Ato Boldon Stadium, from 6 p.m. Mt Pleasant, Jamaica champions in 2023 and runners-up this season, has tricky T&T winger Kyle Auvray among its ranks.
Scorer Joevin Jones was mindful of the importance of Police’s win, ahead of their final preliminary match, “We got on four points now, so it makes the group even better now,” Jones said.
UPCOMING MATCHES:
(Tuesday)
AC Port of Spain (T&T) vs Cibao (Dominican Republic) 8 p.m., Hasely Crawford Stadium
(Thursday)
Police FC (T&T) vs Mount Pleasant Football Academy (Jamaica), 8 p.m., Hasely Crawford Stadium
SOURCE: T&T Express