Point Fortin Civic gave home fans something to cheer on Saturday when the Reynold Carrington coached side bounced back from a goal down to defeat rivals and Digicel Pro League leaders 2-1 at the Mahaica Oval.
Journeyed attacker and Point Fortin debutant Sean Cooper popped up off the bench in the second period to net the winner, to become an instant hero, surely not only to his new supporters, but to all clubs that failed to stop Connection this season.
Connection, undefeated in the league before kickoff after 12 matches this season, grabbed an early 1-0 lead following a smooth build-up when striker Hashim Arcia slammed a low strike past goalkeeper Aquelius Sylvester in just the eight minute.
But after Sylvester was adjudged to have fouled Marcus Joseph inside the area, Point Fortin levelled the score, 1-1, by the 16th minute from the penalty mark with a strike converted by Andre Toussaint.
The home side then took the 2-1 lead and eventual winner in the 72nd minute substitute Cooper headed a cross past Sylvester. The 31-year-old journeyed Cooper announcing his return to Trinidad in style.
Cooper, a former Trinidad and Tobago youth player, is a former Portugal based player and had stints in Trinidad with Joe Public, North East Stars and Tobago United, before representing Surinamese clubs Transvaal and Walking Boys Company (WBC).
Kariym Balthazar, the 25-year-old stepson of Carrington, also made his debut on Saturday in a win that pushed Point Fortin (20 points) two points ahead of Police.
However Connection (32 points), despite experiencing an end to their magnificent run, are 12 points ahead and still favoured to win the league title.
Digicel Pro League 2013/2014 Round Two Match Day Five Results
Police FC 0 – 0 Central FC
San Juan Jabloteh 0 – 1 Caledonia AIA
Kareem Joseph 88’
Point Fortin Civic 2 - 1 W Connection
Andre Toussaint 16' (pen), Sean Cooper 72' ; Hashim Arcia 8'
Teams
Point Fortin Civic—Marvin Phillip, Andre Ettienne, Steven Joseph, Weslie John, Garyl Doldron, Akeem Redhead (Sean Cooper 61st), Nickcolson Thomas, Kariym Balthazar (Kendall Davis 73rd), Andrei Pacheco, Marcus Joseph, Andre Toussaint
Coach—Reynold Carrington
W Connection—Aquelius Sylvester, Gerard Williams, Silvio Spann (Daniel Cyrus 55th), Joevin Jones, Hashim Arcia, Mekeil Williams, Shahdon Winchester, Leslie Joel Russell, Alvin Jones, Jomol Williams (Neil Benjamin Jr. 75th), Kurt Frederick (Devaughn Elliot 61st)
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier