Defender Karlon Murray and midfielder Ataullah Guerra were spokes in W Connection’s wheel when they helped CLICO San Juan Jabloteh to a 2-1 comeback win at the Marvin Lee Stadium, in the second match of the Super Friday.
W Connection had the opening item in the 7th minute through striker Andre Toussaint after making no mistake on a loose ball after goalkeeper Cleon John blocked out the initial effort by Matthew Bartholomew.
Bartholomew continued to irritate the Jabloteh defence with his telling runs even forcing referee Gregory Hospidales to award defender Robert Primus a yellow card for a foul on him.
Jabloteh looked nothing of their League winning team of 2008 as Connection continued to stretch their Round One Match Day One opponents.
New Coach Earl Jean, a former player of W Connection was seemingly failing to make an impression against his former club, was forced to make an early change in midfielder Jason Marcano for striker Jerrol Forbes with a leg injury.
But as things looked down for the defending League Champions, defender Karlon Murray found a way back levelling the scores 1-1 after climbing the W Connection defence to head past goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd off Elijah Manners’ right side corner.
That brought life into Jabloteh and the match in general just before the break with substitute Marcano unleashing a low show at goal. And although it didn’t make its full journey to Lloyd’s six yard area, their fans had something to scream about.
Six minutes into the second period, they had more to scream louder about when midfielder Ataulla Guerra at far post knocked in Elijah Manners’ well weighted cross past goalkeeper Lloyd for a 2-1 lead.
The second half saw a different match as Jabloteh upped the tempo making it an evenly contested affair after the first period was dominated by Connection.
Jabloteh survived a couple scares in the 64th minute and 68th minutes following attempts on goal by Oscar Torijano and Hughtun Hector respectively.
On the other end in the 72nd Guerra took things on his own down the left before slicing a shot just wide of Lloyd’s far post as the match.
Coach Stuart Charles Fevrier introduced striker Kevon Woodley to boost his attack but it was Bartholomew who missed out the equalizing opportunity in the 90th minute after a timely interception by defender Anton Hutchinson.
W Connection’s first half fight was marred by an almost silent second period and despite four minutes of extra time, the equalizing goal never came—giving Earl Jean a celebrative comeback victory over his former coach Fevrier 2-1.
W Connection and Jabloteh are carded to meet again on May 15 in the semifinals of the CFU Club Champions Cup at the same Marvin Lee Stadium.
W Connection 1—2 CLICO San Juan Jabloteh
Andre Toussaint 7’ - Karlon Murray 43’, Ataullah Guerra 51’
W Connection: Miguel Lloyd, Elijah Manners (capt.), William da Silva Oliveira, Kern Cupid (Aaron Downing 73rd), Andre Toussaint, Eder Gilmar Arias, Hughtun Hector, Oscar Torijano (Kevon Woodley 79th), Matthew Bartholomew, Christian Viveros, Gerrard Williams.
San Juan Jabloteh: Cleon John, Marvin Oliver (capt.), Karlon Murray (Anton Hutchinson 55th), Noel Williams, Elijah Manners, Jerol Forbes (Jason Marcano 38th), Ataullah Guerra, Devon Jamerson, Elton John, Cyrano Glen(Willis Plaza 46th), Robert Primus.