Three days before they meet in the Toyota Classic final, W Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh battled to an exciting 1-1 draw at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima, in the 21st round of play in the T&T Pro League.
Jabloteh took the lead after ten minutes, when Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Aurtis Whitley blasted home an indirect freekick (set up by Kerry Baptiste), after Connection’s goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams handled a back-pass from William Da Silva Oliviera.
Another freekick resulted in Connection’s equaliser. After captain Earl Jean was fouled by defender Ian Gray in the 27th, Jabloteh’s goalie Daurance Williams failed to hold Gefferson Goulart’s spotkick, and Andre Toussaint slapped the loose ball home.
Both teams missed numerous chances and, even when national defender Cyd Gray was sent off by referee Richard Piper for his second bookable offence in the 71st, the winner never came.
Daurance Williams saved a close range effort from Goulart in the 72nd, while Jabloteh’s defender Dexter Franklyn cleared a powerful blast from Clyde Leon in the 80th.
In stoppage time, a diagonal ball from Leon found Ronaldo Viana (via Toussaint) on the right and his cross to Goulart was skied overbar.
Meanwhile, two goals apiece from national midfielders Gary Glasgow (22nd and 27th) and Anthony Wolfe (74th and 87th), with one from Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 Kendall Jagdeosingh (81st) gave North East Stars a crushing 5-2 win over Tobago United at the Dwight Yorke Stadium, Bacolet. Noel Williams’ double (64th and 90th penalty) were little consolation for the hosts.
And veteran striker Peter Prosper scored a 54th minute winner to give United Petrotrin a shock 1-0 triumph over Defence Force at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
Results:
1. W Connection 1 (Andre Toussaint) v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Aurtis Whitley).
2. N E Stars 5 (Gary Glasgow 2, Anthony Wolfe 2, Kendall Jagdeosingh) v Tobago Utd 2 (Noel Williams 2).
3. United Petrotrin 1 (Peter Prosper) v Defence Force 0.