CUNUPIA EAGLES was among four Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) Tier One clubs advancing from the opening round of the $150,000 First Citizens Knockout Cup, but Neal & Massy Morvant Caledonia was not among them.
“Cali” were knocked out when going down 2-0 to Tier Two Queen’s Park. Jesus de Lecia (38’) giving the Parkites a first-half lead, before a 78th minute Rondell Paul own-goal confirmed the upset.
FC Phoenix was the other Tier One team knocked out on opening day, going down 3-1 to Cunupia Eagles in the only round of 32 match played between the top flight clubs.
Played at Arima Velodrome, the match could have gone either way. Joshua Alexander handed Eagles a 1-0 first-half lead, in the 14th minute. Haitian Pierre-Louise Peterson headed in Keron Cornwall’s corner-kick for 2-0 in the 75th minute, only for Phoenix to score from a corner as well, Kerry McDonald (82’) glancing the ball past goalkeeper Miles Goodman for 2-1.
Mickaeel Jem Gordon and Lejandro Williams looked dangerous for the Tobago visitors on the counter-attack, but Phoenix shot themselves in the leg when Andel Brown’s short back-pass allowed Azahrias Ali to intercept, brilliantly slip past goalkeeper Duvaughn Daniel and score into an open net, for 3-1 five minutes into added-on time.
At Mahaica Oval, Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic posted a 4-0 win over Tier Two Central Soccer World, with Marcus Joseph and Ezekiel Kesar each scoring a brace.
Meanwhile, Terminix La Horquetta Rangers dismantled Eagles (Tier 11) reserves 6-1, with Isaiah Lee bagging a double, as the home team scored the first five goals at the La Horquetta Recreation Ground. And having lost 17 Tier One matches this season, Central FC were far too strong for Club Sando’s reserves, winning 6-0, with Saleem Henry notching a hat-trick.
FIRST CITIZENS CUP KO
Round-of-32
(Saturday)
Cunupia Eagles 3 (Joshua Alexander 14’, Pierre Louis Peterson 75’, Azahrias Ali 90+5’) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 1 (Kerry McDonald 82’)
QPCC FC 2 (Jesus de Lecia 38’, Rondell Paul 78’-own goal) vs Morvant Caledonia United 0
Central FC 6 (Saleem Henry 20’, 22’ & 33’, Dominic Douglas 11’, Ronaldo Boyce 66’, Anton San Savior 6’ og) vs Club Sando (Tier II) 0
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers 6 (Isaiah Lee 29’ & 53’, Tariq Lee 3’, Leon Whyle 13 og, Leonardo Da Costa 20’, Ross Russell Jr 84’) vs Cunupia Eagles (Tier II) 1 (Chad Awong 87’)
Point Fortin Civic 4 (Ezekiel Kesar 9’& 28’. Marcus Joseph 20’& 34’) vs Central Soccer World 0
SOURCE: T&T Express