Star studded Petrotrin scrapes past Ma Pau.
Former Trinidad and Tobago international Nigel Daniel second half free kick item rescued United Petrotrin from a stalemate against Ma Pau SC in their opening match of the 2009 Digicel Pro League season on Tuesday at Larry Gomes Stadium.
Ma Pau with their young and somewhat inexperienced squad proved a stern test for the experience boasting United Petrotrin (hosting players such as Arnold Dwarika, Gary Glasgow, Cyd Gray and Nigel Pierre in their starting lineup) despite going under to Daniel’s item.
United Petrotrin are 5th on the standings after their first match with 3 points while Ma Pau SC are just below in 6th with 3 points after two matches.
United Petrotrin’s foreign import goalie Edgar Ospina pulled off a magnificent save measuring Anthony Wolfe’s superb strike from 35 yards out in the 16th minute pushing it out for a corner.
Ma Pau then survived a goal in the 31st minute when the referee’s assistant waved offside after Nigel Pierre knocked in a spilled effort by goalkeeper after Gary Glasgow’s initial effort from the right.
Ma Pau defence had the southerners locked out in the early stages forcing and ambitious attempt by Devon Caseman in the 35th minute from outside the area which trickled past Jamaican Shane Mattis’ upright.
Three minutes from the break Nigel Pierre’s volley was parried before gathered by Mattis and a minute later Gary Glasgow had a much better opportunity inside the area after picking up a long pass from Arnold Dwarika but his low attempt was blocked out by the Ma Pau goalie for a corner.
Six minutes into the second period Nigel Daniel broke the deadlock with a well taken free kick from 23 yards out beating a full stretched Mattis at near post for a 1-0 score after Kennedy Hinkson was brought down outside the area.
Daniel tried his luck again in the 61st from the exact spot of his earlier goalscoring kick after the same Hinkson went down under the challenge of Akeem Benjamin. However Daniel’s shot lacked the pace and direction, making it an easy gather for Mattis.
Ma Pau’s inexperienced defence continued to give away the free kicks with Aquil Selby being the culprit four minutes later but they were fortunate to see Devon Caseman’s effort wide of their post.
Ma Pau had a rare goalmouth opportunity against an experienced defence with Cyd Gray, Ian Gray, Lyndon Diaz and Makan Hislop in the 69th minute when Shandell Samuel used his pace to get past his marker to square a pass into the direction of teammate Anthony Wolfe, however their effort was clattered away by Gray and goalkeeper Ospina.
Coach Michael Mc Comie then introduced Tobagonian Trevin Caesar replacing Keeron Benito in the last thirty and he brought some life into the match having two brilliant tries at the Ospina’s goal in the 72nd and 76th minutes earning applauds from the crowd.
Eight minutes from time and Ma Pau failed to level the score through Rennie Brito when he struck well wide of the post from inside the area after being picked out brilliantly by Anthony Wolfe’s long cross.
However time ran out in Ma Pau’s efforts for a comeback with United Petrotrin’s late substitute Simeon Augustus having the last attempt on goal which scraped just wide of far post.
Ma Pau SC 0—1 United Petrotrin
0 ; Nigel Daniel 51’
Ma Pau SC—Shane Mattis, Lyndon Andrews (capt), Anthony Wolfe, Keeron Benito (Trevin Caesar 70th), Rennie Brito (Tyrone Charles 90th), Adrian Noel, Reshad Wint, Aquil Selby, Dwayne James, Akeem Benjamin, Shandell Samuel
Coach—Michael Mc Comie
United Petrotrin—Edgar Ospina, Cyd Gray (capt), Lyndon Diaz, Arnold Dwarika, Ian Gray, Makan Hislop, Nigel Daniel, Gary Glasgow, Nigel Pierre (Kwame Wiltshire 90th+), Devon Caseman, Kennedy Hinkson (Simeon Augustus 82nd)
Coach—Marcos Tinoco
Jabloteh holds top spot after Match Day Two.
Defending League champions CLICO San Juan Jabloteh are now heading the Digicel Pro League standings with maximum points following a 2-1 victory against St Ann’s Rangers on Tuesday night at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
Cyrano Glen and Ataulla Guerra both scored in the first half for a 2-0 cushion and despite a second half penalty registred by Rangers’ Josimar Belgrave, the back-to-back winning League champions are showing signs of another impressive season.
Jabloteh, the only team after Match Day Two with maximum six points are followed by Defence Force in second, Joe Public in third and Police FC in fourth all with four points.
Cyrano Glen crashed an effort onto the crossbar and back into play in the 13th minute and three minutes later he missed the target by a whisker after goalkeeper Javan Seegobin blocked out the initial effort by Jason Marcano from inside the area as Jabloteh showed early signs of what was to come.
In the 21st Marcano pulled one wide of far post with only the goalkeeper to beat after a neat string of passes between Cyrano Glen, Ataullah Guerra and Marvin Oliver.
But in the 27th minute Cyrano Glen made up for earlier mistakes curling a shot past goalkeeper Seegobin from 24 yards out giving Jabloteh a hard fought 1-0 advantage.
Rangers came close to levelling the score but in the 29th minute Cleon John was timely to disposes Errol Mc Farlane just above the six yard area in one of the St Ann’s based club openings.
Three minutes later Mc Farlane provided a clinical pass splitting the Jabloteh defence to find teammate Josimar Belgrave towards goal however the play was halted by the referee’s assistant for the offside infringement.
Jabloteh were cushioned in the 35th minute with a 2-0 advantage after Marcano guided Elijah Manners’ low cross from the right onto the upright and into the back of the net.
Two minutes into the second half and Jabloteh were at it again with Cyrano Glen inches wide of Seegobin’s upright after flicking on with a header a long ball into the area by Elton John.
Seegobin was later spared by a misqued effort by Marcano in the 52nd minute after his defence was left beaten by Cyrano Glen’s cross into the area.
Rangers then had a go at goal through defender Jerome Charles a minute later but his shot directed
In the 55th minute Guerra rocked the Rangers post with a blast from the edge of the area as Seegobin survived what would have been the goal of the match.
Jabloteh continued to dominate the match creating more chances through Glen and Marcano before Glen was later replaced in the 69th minute by Hector Sam.
Seegobin was alive again in the 74th minute when Guerra directed a diving header onto him before it made its way out for a corner.
However Jabloteh defender Anton Hutchinson gave Rangers a lifeline in the 77th minute bringing down Christon Thomas inside the area giving referee Gordon Meloney no chance but to point at the spot.
Josimar Belgrave comfortably converted the resulting penalty after two tries—with teammate Errol Mc Farlane running into the area on the first take forcing referee Maloney to call for a retake—for a 2-1 score in the 79th minute.
The match proceeded with more contest coming out of Rangers but that wasn’t enough for the Anthony Streete coached side at the final whistle who are now seventh on the standings with just one point.
St Ann’s Rangers 1—2 San Juan Jabloteh
Josimar Belgrave 79’(pen) ; Cyrano Glen 27’, Jason Marcano 35’
St Ann’s Rangers—Javan Seegobin, Errol Mc Farlane (capt), Jerome Charles, Coneal Thomas, Elijah Belgrave, Christon Thomas, Shem Mc Farlane, Josimar Belgrave, Kerron Cordner (Clevon Mc Fee 65th), Javon Wilson (Lee Haynes 68th), Keston Hamilton
Coach—Anthony Streete
San Juan Jabloteh—Cleon John, Marvin Oliver (capt), Elijah Manners, Jason Marcano (Sheldon Bateau 87th) (Willis Plaza 76th), Cyrano Glen (Hector Sam 69th), Elton John, Karlon Murray, Noel Williams, Anton Hutchinson, Ataullah Guerra, Devon Jamerson
Coach—Earl Jean
W Connection held by South End.
FC South End moved up two places on the 2009 Digicel Pro League standings following a shocking 1-1 draw against W Connection at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium on Tuesday night.
Anthony Hanes registered 56th minute strike which cancelled out W Connection’s Hughtun Hector’s first half item.
Hector scored in the 27th minute however his team didn’t preserve that lead until the end against the League newcomers.
Prior to the match South End were at the bottom of the 11-team standings following a 4-1 defeat against Defence Force over the weekend.
But now the Anthony Rougier coached team will have alot to boast about holding the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached side.
Despite their draw, W Connection moved up one spot on the standings into eight while South End are just below in ninth both having one point each to their names.
W Connection failed to get off to a good start on Super Friday, falling victims to CLICO San Juan Jabloteh 2-1. Jabloteh now lead the standings with maximum 6 points after Round Two Match Day Two.
FC South End 1—1 W Connection
Anthony Haynes 56’ ; Hughtun Hector 29’
Army, Joe Public share points at Macoya.
Six goals were scored on Tueday afternoon at the Marvin Lee Stadium when Defence Force travelled east at the Marvin Lee Stadium against home team Joe Public, however no winner surfaced in the goals spree.
At the final whistle the score remained 3-3 as both teams had to settle for a point each putting Defence Force in second and Joe Public in third on the League Standings after Round Two Match Day Two of the 2009 Digicel Pro League.
Both coming off wins in their previous matches against FC South End and Caledonia AIA respectively proved that they were going to put on a true contest.
Christopher Durity opened the scoring in the 7th minute for Defence Force before Joe Public’s Kerry Baptiste volleyed his team’s opening item in the 27th minute and Akeil Guevarra blast from outside the area in the 41st minute—both coming off goals on Friday—made it 2-1 in favour of the home team.
Trinidad and Tobago international Aklie Edwards then levelled the scores 2-2 before the half with a 43rd minute strike.
In the second period the stern contest continued and Seon Power headed in Kerry Baptiste’s freekick to take the lead in the 82nd minute.
But three minutes from time after a scramble inside the Joe Public area, Jerwin Balthazar notched in the all important equalizer leaving the scores 3-3 at the end.
Joe Public 3—3 Defence Force
Kerry baptiste 27’, Akeil Guevarra 41’, Seon Powers 82’ ; Christopher Durity 7’, Aklie Edwards 43’, Jerwyn Balthazar 87’
Todd Ryan double arrests Tobago United.
Police FC continued their fine showing and goalscoring form this week when they defeated visiting Tobago United 2-1 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Couva on Tuesday afternoon in Round One Match Day Two action.
Former St Ann’s Rangers player Todd Ryan registered a double, netting on either side of the half to lead the lawmen to their first victory since returning to the Pro League this season.
Police FC are now without a loss after Day Two following their thrilling 3-3 draw against St Ann’s Rangers on Saturday at the Larry Gomes Stadium.
Ryan netted in the 43rd and 76th minutes while Tobago United’s Reginald Payne pulled one back in the 83rd minute to finish the match 2-1.
Police are with four points and fourth on the standings while the Tobagonians with their second loss in as many matches are at the bottom of the table with zero points.
Police FC 2—1 Tobago United
Todd Ryan 44’, 77’ ; Reginald Payne 82’