Sedale Mc Lean scored one and set up another turned in by Renaldo Francois to earn two-time former First Citizens Cup champions Morvant Caledonia United a 2-0 win over a second-string Police FC outfit on Tuesday night to reach the 2018 semi-finals against last season’s defeated finalists Defence Force FC.
Francois put the 2011 and 2012 champions, Morvant Caledonia, in front on 13 minutes in the rescheduled fixture at the Hasely Crawford Stadium when he turned Mc Lean’s right side cross past Theon Browne before Mc Lean drilled a low shot beyond the Police second choice ‘keeper and into the far netting in the 35th minute for a 2-0 cushion which lasted to the final whistle.
Morvant Caledonia (9 points), who virtually knocked out W Connection last Saturday after edging the holders and eight-time champions 2-1, finished second behind Abercrombie Group winners Police FC only by goal difference.
The Jerry Moe-coached Morvant Caledonia must now face Immortelle Group winners and 2002, 2009 and 2016 champions Defence Force in the first match of a semi-final double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium from 6pm on Friday before Police FC and Immortelle Group runners-up Central FC, champions of 2013 and 2014, lock horns from 8pm.
Police head coach Richard Hood, certain his team will progress as group winners due to their superior goal difference, used the Morvant Caledonia contest to field a number of non-starters, among them, Travis Joseph, Keion Wilson and Kemron Purcell and the return of left-back Dexter Alleyne and former Pro League top scorer Makesi Lewis.
Lewis, who missed the last two seasons as a result of a broken leg, was used off the bench, but it was forward Wilson, toting the captaincy on the night, who failed to fire the Lawmen in front after just five minutes.
Morvant Caledonia goalkeeper Terrence Lewis was brilliant, getting glove to the forward’s point blank effort before defender Malik Mieres charged down the rebound effort by Kadeem Riley.
The Morvant Caledonia shot-stopper was on top of his game whenever called upon, even producing a superb reflex-save on the half-hour mark before Mc Lean doubled the lead on the other end.
Francois, however, could have ended the night with a double to his name but was denied by the upright in the 78th minute following a neat feed by substitute Sheldon Holder before a rebound effort by substitute Joshua Alexander was blocked out by the Police defence.
Another chance fell to Francois two minutes later but smashed a left-footed strike overbar from just inside the penalty area.
Earlier on the night, MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers celebrated a 2-1 win over San Juan Jabloteh after contesting the remaining 30 minutes of their contest which was suspended on the hour mark due to torrential rain in the capital city on July 1.
The contest only stood a matter of formality as both sides were unable to avoid a bottom-two finish.
Sean Bonval pulled a goal back for Jabloteh in the 70th minute but the Adrian Romain coached-Rangers, despite a failed penalty strike by Jamal Gay two minutes later, held on for their first win of the season after four attempts thanks to first half goals by Saleem Henry (40) and Allister Bernard (42) on July 1.
First Citizens Cup 2018 Results
San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Sean Bonval 70’) vs MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers 2 (Saleem Henry 40’ pen., Allister Bernard 42’), at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Morvant Caledonia United 2 (Renaldo Francois 13’, Sedale Mc Lean 35’) v Police FC 0, at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Semi-Final Round Upcoming Games.
(Friday 13 July 2018)
Defence Force vs Morvant Caledonia United, 6pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Police FC vs Central FC, 8pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Teams
Morvant Caledonia United: 1.Terrence Lewis (GK) (Capt.); 3.Richard Williams, 5.Joshua Sylvester, 9.Sedale Mc Lean (10.Sheldon Holder 74th minute), 11.Quincy Ballah (23.Osaze Springer 66th minute), 12.Kareem Joseph (22.Joshua Alexander 66th minute), 15.Malik Mieres, 16.Travell Edwards, 17.Kerry Daniel, 19.Renaldo Francois, 28.Jomokie Cassimy.
Unused substitutes: 30.Dejourn Charles (GK); 25.Joshua Martin, 26.Jair Edwards.
Coach: Jerry Moe
Police FC: 22.Theon Browne (GK); 2.Jasimar Ashers, 4.Kadeem Boyce, 11.Micah Lewis (38.Makesi Lewis 69th minute), 17.Dexter Alleyne, 19.Christon Thomas (23.Shakuile Williams 63rd minute), 25.Kaashif Thomas, 26.Travis Joseph, 32.Keion Wilson (Capt.), 33.Kemron Purcell, 36.Kadeem Riley (13.Dillon Kirton 53rd minute).
Unused substitutes: 18.Adrian Foncette (GK); 15.Christian Thomas, 24.Xavier Wheeler, 27.Brandon Charles.
Coach: Richard Hood
Referee: Cecile Hinds
Immortelle Group
Rank Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1 Defence Force FC 4 3 0 1 15 4 11 9
2 Central FC 4 3 0 1 7 4 3 9
3 Club Sando 4 2 1 1 4 4 0 7
4 MIC-IT St. Ann’s Rangers 4 1 0 3 4 12 -8 3
5 San Juan Jabloteh 4 0 1 3 2 8 -6 1
Abercrombie Group
Rank Team MP W D L GF GA GD Pts.
1 Police FC 4 3 0 1 9 3 6 9
2 Morvant Caledonia United 4 3 0 1 7 3 4 9
3 W Connection 4 2 0 2 6 5 1 6
4 Point Fortin Civic 4 2 0 2 8 8 0 6
5 North East Stars 4 0 0 4 2 13 -11 0