Goalkeeper Michael Woods of Arima Morvant Fire “locked” the goal and prevented Pro Bowl winning team Vibe CT 105 W Connection from scoring in the lone T&T Professional Football League match played Thursday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima.
Woods’ performance, coupled with a goal each from Ashford Leggerton and Romauld Aguillera, took “Fire” to a 2-0 upset win.
Following a goalless first half in which W Connection had the better of the exchanges, Leggerton, who was coming off a hat-trick against Tobago United on Sunday, beat ‘keeper Alejandro Figueroa in the 56th minute with a header from an Aguillera cross.
Four minutes later, Aguillera made it 2-0 with a back-heeled flick, amidst strong protest from the Connection team and fans, who claimed that second assistant Simon Baptiste had waved the goal offside. Referee Ramesh Ramdhan ruled that the goal was good and that Aguillera was in fact on-side.
After the two goals, “Fire” had to withstand sustained pressure from the former champion team, but Woods denied them with an outstanding performance between the uprights.
W Connection’s best scoring chance fell to St Lucian Earl Jean in the 86th minute — a spectacular overhead kick which sent the ball banging against the crossbar. In Under-20 Division action, the “Savonneta Boys” turned the table with a 5-0 win.
Kennedy Hinckson led the scoring for WCFC with a double. Leeson Quashie, Dwight Scott and Haughtun Hector got a goal each.
North-East Stars also got into winners’ row in the Under-20 Division, beating CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh 2-0 with goals by Dexter Thornhill (65th minute) and Sloan LesPierre (80th).
Defending champion team Jabloteh will be in action in the lone Open Division match carded this weekend when they face Tobago United away at the Dwight Yorke Stadium in Bacolet, Tobago, tomorrow, from 5 pm. A win will put Jabloteh in second place, three points behind the Sangre Grande-based North East Stars.