Saleem Henry scored his second top-flight goal and Allister Bernard his first to cushion MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers 2-0 against San Juan Jabloteh before torrential showers forced the suspension of Sunday’s First Citizens Cup double-header at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Rangers, playing for pride in their final match of Immortelle Group looked on their way to a first win until match referees were forced to suspended play on the hour mark with the ground conditions at the national stadium affected by the rainfall which also produced flash flooding across the capital, Port-of-Spain.
The remaining 30 minutes will be played at a later date to be fixed by the Pro League, and also the highly anticipated Abercrombie Group clash between Morvant Caledonia United and Police FC which was suspended altogether due to the rain fall.
Henry, a 19-year-old energetic utility player, put Rangers ahead from the penalty spot after, beating Jabloteh custodian and ex-Rangers man Christopher Biggette in the 40th minute after he was brought down in the box by defender Jamal Spencer.
Two minutes later 20-year-old substitute Bernard, coolly rolled the ball through the legs of an advancing Biggette to make it 2-0 following a quick burst on the left and into the penalty area.
Rangers had turned the game on its head after Jabloteh got close in the opening moments when St. Vincent midfielder Nical Stephens, from 30 yards out, forced a brilliant save out of debut ‘keeper Jabari St. Hillaire before defender Kwame Hazel had to clear at the goalmouth following a diving header from Keron Bethelmy.
Jabloteh are with one point and must rebound against Rangers in the rescheduled 30 minutes if they are to improve their mathematical chance of advancing into the semi-finals with a top-two group finish.
Defence Force FC and Central FC are tied on 6 points while Club Sando are third with four points. Central and Sando will clash from 6:30pm on Tuesday in the first game of a double-header at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Results
San Juan Jabloteh 0 v St. Ann’s Rangers 2 (Saleem Henry 40’ pen., Allister Bernard 42’), (30 minutes to be rescheduled after torrential rainfall suspended play at Hasely Crawford Stadium).
Morvant Caledonia United v Police FC (to be rescheduled after torrential rainfall suspended play at Hasely Crawford Stadium).
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh: 1.Christopher Biggette (GK); 4.Nical Stephens, 5.Raymond Alleyne, 10.Jomoul Francois, 12.Keron Bethelmy (8.Xae-Pierre De Fou 50th minute), 14.Tyrese Bailey, 15.Dellon Jagessar, 16.Jamal Spencer, 17.Sean Bonval, 18.Jevon Morris (Capt), 24.Kareem Baptiste.
Unused substitutes: 30.Shemel Louison (GK); 2.Nicholai Orr, 6.Josiah Baird, 22.Adrian Martyr, 13.Kristoff John.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers: 22.Jabari St. Hillaire (GK); 3.Andel Brown, 6.Saleem Henry, 7.Jamal Gay (Capt.), 12.Kwame Hazel, 14.Jabari Mayers, 16.Maliq Gumbs, 24.Ethan Bonaparte, 26.Isiah Mc Lean, 28.Holan Joseph (20.Allister Bernard 33rd minute), 31.Tyrell Cameron.
Unused substitutes: 1.Cleon John (GK), 2.Kevin Pilgrim, 11.Gerald Meloney, 15.Renaldo Alexander, 23.Jeremiah Vidale, 34.Lukeman Brooks.
Coach: Adrian Romain
Referee: Quincy Williams
Upcoming Games.
(Tuesday 3 July 2018)
Club Sando FC v Central FC, 6:30pm at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic F.C v North East Stars, 8:30pm at Ato Boldon Stadium.
W Connection & Defence Force FC (Bye).
(Friday 6 July 2018)
Central FC v San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Defence Force FC v Club Sando, 8pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
(Saturday 7 July 2018)
Police FC v Point Fortin Civic, 4pm at Ato Boldon Stadium;
W Connection Football Club Ltd. vs Morvant Caledonia United, 6pm at Ato Boldon Stadium.
North East Stars & MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers (Bye).
Semi-Final Round
(Friday 13 July 2018)
Abercrombie winners vs Immortelle runners-up
Immortelle winners vs Abercrombie runners-up
Immortelle Group
Rank Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1 Defence Force FC 3 2 0 1 12 4 8 6
2 Central FC 2 2 0 0 4 1 3 6
3 Club Sando 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 4
4 San Juan Jabloteh 2 0 1 1 0 4 -4 1
5 MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers 3 0 0 3 2 11 -9 0
Abercrombie Group
Rank Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1 Police FC 2 2 0 0 6 1 5 6
2 W Connection 3 2 0 1 5 3 2 6
3 Morvant Caledonia United 2 1 0 1 3 2 1 3
4 Point Fortin Civic 2 1 0 1 4 4 0 3
5 North East Stars 3 0 0 3 1 9 -8 0