Newly established Central FC put on a valiant effort to finish Round One Match Day Three as the only team yet to drop points this campaign, in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over last year’s runner-up T&TEC, to go top of the Digicel T&T Pro League, yesterday.
A close range effort from midfielder Anthony Wolfe was the deciding factor, which led Central to its second successive victory, in the second fixture of a double header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Keerton Benito scored to put T&TEC up 1-0 with 10 minutes left in the first half with a clean strike.
The “Electricity Boys” held the advantage until seconds to the hour mark, when Central FC’s Tyrone Charles whipped in a clinical freekick which had shotstopper Akini Adams grounded in goal. Fifteen minutes later, Central FC again stung T&TEC from a set piece. Wolfe, a former T&T international, tucked home his team’s second after being found from a Hayden Tinto corner.
The match would end with the young club Central celebrating another impressive result. North East Stars, which started the campaign with a win and a draw, had the opportunity to end the day on top of the eight-team standings, but could only muster a 1-1 draw with Police, when the two teams convened at the same venue for the second match.
Jameel Perry opened for Police, but his strike was cancelled out within five minutes of the end of the first half when former MLS striker Cornel Glen slotted home a penalty. The result would put Stars a point behind the surprise package Central, with defending league champions W Connection trailing in third with four points.
Following a season opening draw, W Connection climbed up the ladder on Friday with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over St Ann’s Rangers, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Rennie Britto, on as a substitute, scored the winning goal for Connection, which followed a clinical finish by Winchester, who earned W Connection the equaliser. In the round’s other match, Caledonia AIA sealed a 4-2 win over Defence Force, to record its first victory of the campaign.
Teams
Central FC : - 1.Marvin Phillip, 2.Dylon Charles, 6.Marc Leslie, 24.Akeem Adams, 25.Kevaughn Connell (16.Carey Harris 46th), 10.Marvin Oliver, 19.Adrian Noel (21.Keron Cummings 89th),15.Sayid Freitas, 7.Hayden Tinto, 10.Anthony Wolfe (capt), 15.Tyrone Charles (26.Quincy Charles 73rd).
Coach: - Graham Rix.
T&TEC: - 1.Akini Adams, 17.Kern Peters, 3.Anthony Noriega, 7.Cebastian Bailey, 4.Angus John, 20.Brent Garcia (13.Kevon Neaves 63rd), 15.Tigana Sparks, 19.Simeon Augustus, 14.Keeron Benito (capt), 5.Javed Mohammed, 16.Bevon Bass (27.Desta Francis 46th).
Coach: - Jefferson George.
Pro League Results
Friday
W Connection 2 (Shahdon Winchester 51st, Rennie Britto 83rd) v St Ann’s Rangers 1 (Elijah Belgrave 41st)
Caledonia AIA 4 (Conrad Smith 17th, Ataullah Guerra 27th, Densill Theobald 80th, Jamal Gay 84th) v Defence Force 2 (Richard Roy 55th, Devorn Jorsling 86th)
Saturday
Central FC 2 (Tyrone Charles 58th, Anthony Wolfe 75th) v T&TEC 1 (Keeron Benito 35th)
North East Stars 1 (Cornell Glen 41st-Pen) v Police 1 (Jameel Perry 24th)
Central Sharks leap on top Pro League.
By Ian Prescott (Express).
NEW BOYS Central United "Sharks" are on top the Digicel Pro League—at least for now.
Coached by former Arsenal and England footballer Graham Rix, Central FC kept a 100 per cent record after two matches when beating last season's runner-up T&TEC 2-1 on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, the second match of the double header at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Arima saw Jameel Perry putting Police ahead in the 23rd, before North East Stars drew level at 1-1 in the 41st from the penalty spot through former national footballer Cornell Glen.
Earlier, T&TEC took the lead in the 35th minute off the boot of midfielder Keeron Benito, who shocked Trinidad & Tobago senior national team goalie Marvin Phillip with a shot from distance.
Central United came out business like at the start of the second half and struck an upright through captain Anthony Wolfe, before left midfielder Tyrone Charles drew them level from a free-kick in the 57th minute.
Later captain Anthony Wolfe netted a 75th minute winner.
T&TEC goalkeeper Akini Adams inadvertainly assisted Central United when handling the ball outside his penalty area and conceding a free-kick. Charles took control of the free-kick and beat Adams with a shot that curled over the defensive wall.
Level at 1-1 in the 57th minute, Central United went on to win the match through captain Anthony Wolfe, who also netted a penalty-kick winner when the Sharks beat Police 1-0 last week. Wolfe netted for the second consecutive week when tapping in Hayden Tinto's corner-kick from close up.
Wolfe also had a few duels with the T&TEC goalkeeper on the night. Adams won a few of the battles, before ultimately losing the war when Wolfe put Central in the lead.
Earlier in the second half, Wolfe shot low past Adams, but nailed the heel of an upright.
Adams redeemed himself when stopping the striker when Wolfe was clear of defenders and bearing down menacingly on his goal with 20 minutes of regulation time to go, and the 'keeper also saved another of Wolfe's shots with his legs in the dying stages.
However, Wolfe had the last laugh when scoring the match winner.