Ato Boldon Stadium, COUVA – Goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams produced three saves on kicks from the spot to guide defending champions Central FC to a 3-2 penalty win over Point Fortin Civic following a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their quarterfinal round clash of the 2014 First Citizens Cup on Friday night.
“We practiced penalties because we expected a tough game [that could have reached] penalties,” Central FC head coach Zoran Vranes revealed following the match. “(So) we are very glad that it paid off.”
The “Couva Sharks” advances into the semi-final round which does not included six-time winners W Connection, after the “Savonnetta Boys” were defeated 2-0 by San Juan Jabloteh in the earlier quarterfinal at the Couva venue.
Connection, winners in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, were stunned by the two-time winners Jabloteh and had only themselves to blame after going under twice in the first half.
Connection defensive St Lucian signing Jamil Joseph was the wrongdoer on both occasions in which Jabloteh capitalised on.
A giveaway by Joseph, the last defender, 25-yards out allowed Jabloteh's Newtown Sterling a free run towards goal and upon entering the 18-yard area the Jamaican forward hit past goalkeeper Julani Archibald for a 1-0 lead.
That lead was doubled for a 2-0 cushion by the 35th minute when another Jamaican, Adrian Reid, converted from the penalty spot against Archibald.
Referee Gyasi Mc Donald had awarded the kick after Joseph, a St Lucian national team defender, tripped Jamaican Fabian Reid in the box.
Jabloteh, winners in 2000 and 2003, had defeated two-time (2002 and 2009)winners and last season’s defeated finalists Defence Force 3-2 on penalties following a 1-1 tie in last Tuesday’s play-off at the Marvin Lee Stadium to advance into the quarterfinal round, and the “San Juan Kings” were on their way to another high profile scalp.
“I have a very idea of what all the top teams in the league does,” Jabloteh head coach Keith Jeffrey explained. “Twelve months ago we were at the bottom and this is the season we hope to set good standards. W Connection, Defence Force and Jabloteh are three teams with a lot of history and it is an honour that after we beat Defence Force (we) beat W Connection. Not that we are underestimating the other teams but with these two victories we should go all the way. It brings a level of expectancy and we don’t want to disappoint San Juan.”
Jabloteh took a defensive approach from their second goal but had two good scoring opportunities which were quelled by Archibald; denying Andell Noray and substitute Shaquille Bertrand in the 50th and 83rd minutes respectively.
Connection meanwhile had a better share of the chances but failed to capitalise and when they did get on target, another Jamaican, goalkeeper Shane Mattis stood in their way.
Mattis pulled off two low saves in the second half while Connection’s best efforts that were out of the Jamaican’s reach, flew inches wide of the target from forward Hashim Arcia on either side of the half.
In the second match Central trailed from as early as the 2nd minute after Andre Toussaint, alert near the back post, guided in a low Steven Joseph cross from the right for a 1-0 lead.
But like their two previous matches in the Digicel Pro League this season, against Caledonia AIA (1-2) and North East Stars (1-3), Civic went on to lose after taking the advantage.
Three minutes before the break Central leveled the score 1-1 when midfielder Ataullah Guerra converted from the spot.
Midfielder Sean De Silva had unleashed a left footed strike that brought an excellent block-out by goalkeeper Marvin Phillip but on the follow-up De Silva was upended by defender Andre Ettienne forcing referee Neil Brizan to point to the spot.
Ettienne was booked and Phillip was later beaten by a low penalty kick from Guerra.
De Silva, who was denied by Phillip in the 13th minute, had another attempt in the 77th minute but his early half-volley, following a string of Central passes, whisked just wide of the upright.
Civic's star forward and last season's Digicel Pro League top scorer Marcus Joseph was restricted from goal with his only effort on target coming from a 70th minute free-kick which lacked power but called a save out of Williams.
Williams, Trinidad and Tobago’s first choice goalie, went on to better his national goalkeeping teammate and Civic 'keeper, Phillip, by denying Andre Toussaint (first), Matthew Bartholomew (fourth) and Weslie John (fifth) on kicks from the penalty spot before teammate Marvin Oliver scored the winning Central kick.
“Credit to Point Fortin Civic and Phillip for making some good saves to keep his team in it but all that was going through my mind was keeping my team in the game,” said goalkeeper Williams.
“They (Civic) are a good team and we have a lot of respect for them but they have never defeated us so we wanted to keep that intact.
“We discussed before the game that the First Citizens Cup is something that we own; we are the defending champions and we want to maintain that even into next season.”
Phillip produced one save from the spot to deny Central’s second kicker Jean-Luc Rochford and although De Silva struck overbar on the third kick, it still wasn't enough to steer Civic into the semi-final round.
In the end a relieved Vranes said, “We expected a tough game and we got it. They have a very good team; very experienced guys, good players indeed. They put everything that they could. It was a close game and I am very happy that we won. It could have gone both ways but tonight our goalkeeper did well.”
The quarterfinal round continues on Saturday 18 October at the Marvin Lee Stadium when Police FC tackle St. Ann's Rangers from 5 pm and two-time (2011 & 2012) winners Caledonia AIA against North East Stars from 7 pm.
The semi-final round is carded for Friday 24 October with the winner between Police and Rangers against Central FC and the winner between Caledonia and North East Stars against Jabloteh.
2014 First Citizens Cup Quarter Final Round Friday’s Results
W Connection 0—2 San Juan Jabloteh
Newtown Sterling 14’, Adrian Reid 35’ (pen)
Central FC 1—1 Point Fortin Civic
Ataullah Guerra 42’ (pen) ; Andre Toussaint 2’
Kicks from the penalty spot
Point Fortin Civic 2 Central FC 3
Andre Toussaint (saved) Ataullah Guerra (scored)
Marcus Joseph (scored) Jean-Luc Rochford (saved)
Andre Ettienne (scored) Sean de Silva (overbar)
Matthew Bartholomew (saved) Akeem Benjamin (scored)
Weslie John (saved) Marvin Oliver (scored)
Teams
W Connection—18. Julani Archibald, 3. Gerard Williams (C), 2. Kurt Frederick, 4. Jamil Joseph (26. Maurice Ford 46th), 5. Mekeil Williams, 10. Yefer Steven Lozano, 11. Tremain Shayn Paul, 14. Hashim Arcia, 29. Akeem Garcia (65. Neil Benjamin Jr. 73rd), 32. Dimitrie Apai, 39. Alvin Jones (28. Akim Andrews 70th)
Unused substitutes—13. Devaughn Elliott, 17. Jamal Clarence, 22. Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 36. Triston Hodge
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier
San Juan Jabloteh—30. Shane Mattis, 18. Jevon Morris (C), 22. Calib Sturge (4. Garth Thomas 58th), 12. Brendon Boucaud (14. Shaquille Bertrand 72nd), 6. Dario Holmes, 19. Dillon Kirton, 24. Adrian Reid, 7. Andell Noray, 17. Fabian Reid, 8. Newtown Sterling, 9. Johan Peltier (15. Duran Dilworth 67th)
Unused substitutes—36. Raheem Belgrave (GK), 16. Nyron Jones, 10. Kerry Baptiste, 23. Brendon Figuera
Coach—Keith Jeffrey
Match Referee—Gyasi Mc Donald
Teams
Central FC—21. Jan-Michael Williams, 6. Leston Paul (C) (7. Jason Marcano 58th), 5. Akeem Benjamin, 45. Ataullah Guerra, 11. Darren Mitchell, 99. Dwight Quintero (19. Nathaniel Garcia 78th), 14. Jean-Luc Rochford, 15. Kaydion Gabriel (23. Denzil Daniel 90th), 17. Marcelle Francois, 10. Marvin Oliver, 8. Sean de Silva
Unused substitutes—30. Akel Clarke, 18. Kevon Goddard, 27. Shaquille Williams, 13. Seon Thomas
Coach—Zoran Vranes
Point Fortin Civic—1. Marvin Phillip, 5. Andre Ettienne (C), 3. Steven Joseph, 4. Weslie John, 12. Glen Sutton, 18. Trent Lougheed (7. Kelvin Modeste 78th), 2. Garyl Doldron, 6. Akeem Redhead, 19. Andrei Pacheco (9. Matthew Bartholomew 62nd), 11. Andre Toussaint, 10. Marcus Joseph
Unused substitutes—52. Akini Adams (GK), 14. Kariym Balthazar, 13. Tevin Belfor, 23. Kevin Rouse, 15. Ronell Paul
Coach—Reynold Carrington