ATO BOLDON STADIUM, Couva – Led by a Willis Plaza double and comforted by second half goals from Ataullah Guerra and Marvin Oliver, Central FC cruised into the semi-final round of the 2014 Lucozade Sport Goal Shield with an impressive 4-0 win over Caledonia AIA on Friday night.
And in the second quarter-final on the night, tournament debutants Point Fortin Civic defeated Defence Force 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling 1-1 draw to advance into the semi-final round which will be contested on Friday 11 April at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Two saves from the spot by Civic’s second choice goalkeeper Akini Adams – brother of deceased former Trinidad and Tobago international Akeem Adams – denying Curtis Gonzales (in the third) and Corey Rivers (in the fifth), sent the two-time defeated LSGS Finalists Defence Force skidding out after earning a late hard-fought draw.
While Civic’s Marcus Joseph, Andre Toussaint, Andre Ettienne and Bevon Bass all found the back of the net against goalkeeper Kevin Graham, who had gloves to Joseph’s strike (in the first) but was beaten by power.
Civic had led the match 1-0 from the 41st minute when teenager Akeem Redhead’s laser off a rebound pierced between goalkeeper Kevin Graham and a defender.
Graham and company had done well initially keeping out Weslie John’s header from an Andre Toussaint corner but were left defeated by the follow-up strike.
The Point Fortin outfit were clearly out for revenge following last Tuesday’s disappointing 3-2 surrendering to the Defence Force after holding a two-goal cushion in the rescheduled Digicel Pro League fixture.
Coach Reynold Carrington’s men were inches shy of opening in style in the 18th minute after a left-footed rocket from Marcus Joseph from 25 yards out on the right crashed off the crossbar, and the rebound effort by Redhead was thwarted by Graham.
And by the 31st minute Graham’s frame shook again when a glancing header by John off Toussaint’s corner struck the crossbar.
The Defence Force number one was called upon again five minutes into the second period pulling off an excellent one-handed save to deny Toussaint who had a good look at goal following a neat pass inside the area by Joseph.
But ten minutes from time Defence Force were celebrating an equaliser after substitute Glynn Franklyn towered at the back post to head past Adams from a left-footed corner swung in by striker Devorn Jorsling.
Jorsling, who had a couple openings and a free-kick deflected just wide in the first half, failed to get the better of returning Civic captain and hard-tackling central defender Ettienne on the night.
Gonzales had coach Ross Russell’s charges’ second best effort on the night from distance but inches high of the crossbar in the 23rd minute, and in stoppage time the midfielder, rushing in towards the back post, blasted high and wide off a low out-swinging Jemel Sebro cross.
However in the opening quarterfinal of the competition that provokes goal-scoring based on its unique prize money structure, Central surely weren’t shy of finding the back of the net.
Plaza converted from the spot against goalkeeper Shemel Louison in the 14th minute to give the “Sharks” an early 1-0 advantage after he was pulled down inside the area by defender Akeem Thomas with referee Mervyn Wallace spot on to blow for a penalty.
And two minutes before the break Plaza doubled his LSGS tally to put the score 2-0 when he took one touch on a well-placed Samuel Delice cross inside the six-yard area and fired left-footed past Louison.
Caledonia were lucky not to conceded again on the hour mark when Keion Trim curled a left-footed strike onto the near upright and a blast from the rebound by Darren Mitchell was cleared off the goal-line by defender Kareem Joseph.
But the Jamaal Shabazz coached-Caledonia weren’t shown compassion by former midfielders Guerra and Oliver.
An errant pass by Thomas, forced into error by Plaza, allowed midfielder Guerra a free run towards goal from above the area in the 81st minute and completed his move with a cool finish past an advancing Louison for a 3-0 score.
Then on the 90th minute substitute Oliver converted from the penalty spot after Louison had upended Mitchell inside the area after his defence was dissected by a sequence of passes involving substitutes Jason Marcano and Sean De Silva who squared the final pass to Mitchell.
On Saturday the quarterfinal round continues at the Ato Boldon Stadium with defending champions and two-time winners W Connection against San Juan Jabloteh from 5 pm, with the winner advancing to meet Point Fortin Civic in the semi-finals, and from 7 pm the 2010 LSGS winners North East Stars will tackle Police FC, with the winner of that match to face Central FC in the semis.
2014 Lucozade Sport Goal Shield Play-off result
Thursday 3 April, at the Larry Gomes Stadium
San Juan Jabloteh 2—0 St. Ann’s Rangers
Jean-Luc Rochford 5’, Micah Lewis 61’
Quarter Final Round results
Friday 4 April, at the Ato Boldon Stadium
Central FC 4—0 Caledonia AIA
Willis Plaza 14’(PEN), 43’, Ataullah Guerra 81’, Marvin Oliver 90’ (PEN)
Point Fortin Civic 1 (4)—(3) 1 Defence Force
Akeem Redhead 41’, Glynn Franklyn 80’
(Point Fortin Civic won 4-3 on penalties)
Defence Force (3) Point Fortin Civic (4)
Devorn Jorsling (scored) Marcus Joseph (scored)
Richard Roy (scored) Andre Toussaint (scored)
Curtis Gonzales (saved) Andre Ettienne (scored)
Ross Russell Jr. (scored) Bevon Bass (scored)
Corey Rivers (saved)
Upcoming Quarter Final Round fixtures
Saturday 5 April
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh—5 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
North East Stars vs Police FC—7 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium
Semi-Final Round Friday 11 April
Winner (W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh) vs Point Fortin Civic, Ato Boldon Stadium
Central FC vs Winner (North East Stars vs Police FC), Ato Boldon Stadium
Final
Friday 25 April
Ato Boldon Stadium
Teams
Central FC—21. Jan-Michael Williams, 1. Willis Plaza (4. Sean De Silva 83rd), 2. Elton John, 3. Keion Goodridge (Yellow Card), 11. Darren Mitchell (Yellow Card), 12. Jamal Jack, 15. Kaydion Gabriel, 22. Keion Trim (7. Jason Marcano 67th), 27. Samuel Delice (Yellow Card) (10. Marvin Oliver 63rd), 45. Ataullah Guerra, 50. Yohance Marshall
Unused substitutes—6. Leston Paul, 9. Dwight Quintero, 24. Akeem Benjamin, 25. Javon Sample (GK)
Coach—Terry Fenwick
Caledonia AIA—1. Shemel Loiuson, 7. Stephan David (C), 4. Raymond Alleyne (Yellow Card), 5. Akeem Thomas, 6. Marcus Ambrose, 9. Keyon Edwards (Yellow Card), 12. Kareem Joseph, 13. Julian Wade (31. Dylon King 72nd), 21. Densill Theobald, 22. Jameel Neptune (24. Conrad Smith 81st), 27. Nathan Lewis (20. Noel Williams 55th)
Unused substitutes—8. Keron Bethelmy, 19. Nical Stephens, 28. Pernell Schultz, 34. Kevin Graham (GK)
Coach—Jamaal Shabazz
Match Referee—Mervyn Wallace
Teams
Point Fortin Civic—22. Akini Adams, 5. Andre Ettienne (C), 2. Garyl Doldron, 4. Weslie John, 17. Glen Sutton, 18. Akeem Reedhead (21. Andre Alexis 73rd), 14. Bevon Bass, 11. Andre Toussaint, 19. Andrei Pacheco (20. Sylvester Teesdale 60th), 35. Kariym Balthazar, 10. Marcus Joseph
Unused substitutes—1. Marvin Phillip (GK), 33. Jamille Boatswain, 27. Jared Bennett, 30. Akiniyel Rouse, 7. Nickcolson Thomas
Coach—Reynold Carrington
Defence Force—1. Kevin Graham, 14. Corey Rivers (C), 3. Keston Williams (2. Glynn Franklyn 54th), 4. Dave Long, 6. Rodell Elcock, 8. Curtis Gonzales, 9. Devorn Jorsling, 12. Jemel Sebro, 17. Ross Russell Jr., 18. Sean Narcis (26. Richard Roy 59th), 23. Kerry Joseph (7. Balondemu Julius 78th)
Unused substitutes—5. Devin Jordan, 13. Marvin Jones, 25. Sheldon Clarke (GK), 45. Akeem Roach
Coach—Ross Russell
Match referee—Cecil Hinds