Point Fortin Civic improved their status as the bogey side of North East Stars since an opening loss to their 2017 Pro League campaign last June against the Stars at the Arima Velodrome.
Civic, the only team to defeat North East Stars this season, yesterday edged the current Pro League leaders 1-0 for a second consecutive time in all competitions—their latest win earning coach Reynold Carrington’s men a First Citizens Cup semi-final meeting with defending champions Defence Force next Friday.
Jabari Mitchell produced the winner for the First Citizens Cup underdogs four minutes into the second half after a wasteful first period by both sides at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Arima.
Mitchell, the former Trinidad and Tobago youth midfielder who joined Civic from W Connection this season, sent a 25-yard free-kick over a poorly-placed North East wall and past a motionless goalkeeper Akel Clarke to break the deadlock with the eventual winner.
Ironically, it was on a spill by Clarke at the death on August 11 that Kevin Moodie snatched his debut Civic goal at the Mahaica Oval as the hosts, 1-0 league winners then, exacted revenge for their opening loss of the season by the same score-line, while snapping the Stars’ six-game undefeated league start to the 2017 campaign.
W Connection, the former club of Civic’s latest hero, Mitchell, will take on Central FC from 3:30pm today (Sunday) at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium to complete the quarter-final round for a place in Friday’s semi-finals against Club Sando.
Sando defeated Morvant Caledonia United 3-1 last Friday in a quarter-final double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium which included Defence Force escaping San Juan Jabloteh 4-2 on penalties following a nail-biting 3-3 draw.
Central, like Civic, advanced from last Wednesday’s play-off round. Tyrik John’s late winner gave the Couva Sharks a 2-1 win over MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers before Civic escaped Police FC with a 4-1 penalty shootout following a goalless draw.
Results
North East Stars 0 vs Point Fortin Civic 1 (Jabari Mitchell 49’), (A), at Larry Gomes Stadium.
Teams
North East Stars: 30.Akel Clarke (GK); 2.Keston George, 5.Julius James, 6.Anslem Jackson (4.Kerry Baptiste 69th minute), 7.Kishun Seecharan (3.Kevon Villaroel 46th minute), 11.Rundell Winchester, 18.Densill Theobald, 19.Jalani Felix, 20.Yohance Marshall, 21.Kevon Goddard, 22.Jameel Neptune.
Unused substitutes: 1.Jesse Peters (GK); 12.Elton John, 13.Kyle Bartholomew, 14.Jomoul Francois, 15.Seon Thomas.
Coach: Derek King
Point Fortin Civic: 1.Marvin Phillip (GK) (Capt.); 8.Jamal John (16.Kelvin Modeste 69th minute), 10.Jabari Mitchell, 12.Nathaniel Garcia, 13.Nickcolson Thomas, 20.Bevon Bass, 26.Jeremiah Kesar, 30.Nion Lammy, 33.Justin Sadoo, 45.Shackiel Henry (90.Jared Bennett 81st minute), 53.Stephan Campbell.
Unused substitutes: 52.Akini Adams (GK); 7.Steven Joseph, 24.Akinola Gregory, 25.Shaquille Dublin, 99.Kevin Moodie.
Coach: Reynold Carrington
Referee: Crystal Sobers