Jason Marcano scored with seven minutes left to earn two-time defending Digicel Pro League champions Central FC a 3-2 win against St. Ann’s Rangers on Tuesday afternoon.
Central, although equipped with former English Premier League forward and current Trinidad and Tobago captain Kenwyne Jones, had to come from behind twice with the help of some luck at the Larry Gomes Stadium, before substitute Marcano grabbed the winner.
Central, unbeaten in the league and with 22 points from 7 wins and one draw, moved back at the top, three points clear of rivals W Connection, who had temporarily hurdled Couva Sharks on goal-difference.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, a double from Akeem Roach gave Club Sando a much-needed 2-0 win over winless Point Fortin Civic at Mahaica Oval.
Roach netted in the 41st and 64th minutes against the bottom-placed Civic to lead the 2016-2017 DPL scoring chart with six goals, but more importantly moved the Angus Eve-coached Sando one spot up into sixth on 10 points, one less than fifth-positioned Rangers, with only their third league win after eight games.
Rangers, led by ex-Sando coach Anthony Streete, had taken a 1-0 lead over Central in the 10th minute through forward Josh Toussaint, who broke the offside trap before firing into goalkeeper Javon Sample’s far netting.
But that lead was wiped out a minute later when Rangers defender Lester Durham launched the ball into his own net to make it 1-1 after a desperate clearance ahead of Central forward Marcus Joseph during a quick attack by the Couva Sharks on the restart.
Deservingly the St. Ann’s club grabbed the lead again through a wonderful solo goal by Jomoul Francois on 25 minutes—his third league goal of the season—for a 2-1 scoreline.
Rangers were denied another just over the hour mark by Sample who put over a Micah Lansiquot attempt.
However defender Jameel Antoine’s arm in the way of a powerful Joseph attempt provided Central another helping hand, and referee Keilon Bacchus pointed to the penalty spot.
Joseph shouldered the responsibility and levelled the scores at 2-2 five minutes before the break with a thunderous left-footed strike to beat a fully-sprawled Christopher Biggette in goal for Rangers.
Kenwyne Jones had an excellent scoring chance just over the hour mark on a perfectly-placed Mickaeel Jem Gordon cross, but like less than two minutes into play, the 32-year-old former Sunderland, Stoke City and Cardiff City frontman who will join new MLS franchise Atlanta United in January, failed to put his effort on target.
Coach Dale Saunders’ side finally got the breakthrough in the 83rd minute thanks to the combined effort of substitutes Kishun Seecharan and Marcano.
Seecharan weaved himself into the right of the area before passing to Marcano, and the veteran attacker lifted his strike beyond Biggette and into the far netting to earn Central the 3-2 victory.
Seecharan later had a go at goal himself but Biggette, who acrobatically denied Keron Cummings in the 53rd minute, was equal to the task.
Central returns to league play on Friday 2 December against third-placed San Juan Jabloteh from 6pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. The contest will provide the appetizer for the main event which will see Defence Force take on Ma Pau Stars in the final of the 2016 First Citizens Cup from 8pm.
Digicel Pro League 2016-2017
Full Round One Match Day Eight results
(Tuesday 29 November 2016)
Central FC 3 (Lester Durham 12’ Own Goal, Marcus Joseph 40’ pen., Jason Marcano 83’) vs St. Ann’s Rangers 2 (Josh Toussaint 11’, Jomoul Francois 25’), at Larry Gomes Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic 0 vs Club Sando 2 (Akeem Roach 41’ 64’), at Mahaica Oval.
(Friday 25 November 2016)
San Juan Jabloteh 0 vs W Connection 3 (Hughtun Hector 20’, 58’, Andre Toussaint 30’), at Brian Lara Recreation Ground.
(Tuesday, November 22, 2016)
Ma Pau Stars 1 (Jerrel Britto 83’) vs Morvant Caledonia United 0, at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Defence Force 0 vs Police FC 2 (Todd Ryan 38’, Elijah Belgrave 41’), at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Upcoming fixtures
Digicel Pro League 2016-2017
Round One Match Day Nine
(Friday 2 December 2016)
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Central FC vs San Juan Jabloteh—6pm
First Citizens Cup 2016 Final
(Friday 2 December 2016)
Hasely Crawford Stadium
Defence Force vs Ma Pau Stars—8pm
Digicel Pro League 2016-2017
Round One Match Day Nine
(Sunday 4 December 2016)
Morvant Recreation Ground
Morvant Caledonia United vs Police FC—3:30pm
Naparima College Ground
Club Sando vs St. Ann’s Rangers—5pm
(Tuesday 6 December 2016)
Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force vs Point Fortin Civic—6pm
W Connection vs Ma Pau Stars—8pm
Teams at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Tues. 29 Nov.
Central FC: 1.Javon Sample (GK), 3.Keion Goodridge, 6.Leston Paul, 9.Kenwyne Jones, 10.Keron Cummings (Yellow Card), 11.Darren Mitchell (Capt.) (12.Kishun Seecharan 79’ minute), 17.Johan Peltier (7.Jason Marcano 62nd minute), 19.Nathan Garcia, 24.Kevon Villaroel, 26.Mickaeel Jem Gordon, 99.Marcus Joseph (8.Sean De Silva 63rd minute).
Unused substitutes: 30.Akel Clarke (GK), 12.Rondell Gibson, 14.Nicholas Dillon, 16.Kadeem Corbin.
Coach: Dale Saunders
St. Ann’s Rangers: 22.Christopher Biggette (GK), 7.Sedale Mc Lean, 8.Jameel Antoine (Yellow Card), 9.Jomoul Francois, 10.Devon Modeste, 11.Kazim Donald, 16.Richard Williams (24.Jesse Williams 90th minute), 21.Josh Toussaint (32.Marvin Lee 84th minute), 23.Micah Lansiquot, 28.Shakyl Phillip (Capt.), 30.Lester Durham.
Unused substitutes: 1.Cleon John (GK), 6.Dylon King, 33.Osaze Springer.
Coach: Anthony Streete
Referee: Keilon Bacchus
Assistant Referee 1: Glen Kevin Charles
Assistant Referee 2: CJ O’Brien
Fourth Official: Nicholas Nyron