W Connection edge Defence Force 2-1.
Dominican Republic striker Jonathon Frias scored the winner in added-on time to help W Connection to a 2-1 victory over Defence Force in a Digicel Pro League match on Friday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium (MLS), Macoya.
But in the first match of the Super Friday double-header at the MLS, defending Pro League champions San Juan Jabloteh maintained their lead with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Police FC.
Jabloteh stayed atop the standings with 17 points from seven matches, four points clear of second-placed Caledonia AIA of Morvant-Laventille, who have played six matches.
The win moved W Connection up a spot into fifth where they join both Joe Public and United Petrotrin on 11 points. Defence Force remain in eighth position with seven points after Friday's clash.
A week ago, W Connection had comprehensively outplayed Defence Force 3-0 in the Lucozade Goal Shield Final at Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
But the Army-Coast Guard combination were a completely different bunch two nights ago, although they lacked clinical finishing.
And they paid dearly for their missed chances when in injury time Frias guided Andre Toussaint's short cross into the net after defensive disarray allowed Connection to steal victory.
Defence Force started brightly with a few chances at Connection's goal.
However, they failed to put the ball into the back of the net.
Wide right midfielder Jerwyn Balthazar had the best opportunity to put Defence Force ahead when left alone with W Connection's Colombian goalkeeper Miguel Lloyd in the 19th minute.
But Lloyd kept his composure after his defenders were beaten and closed down Bartholomew to gather the shot.
Kevon Carter had a similar opportunity in the 38th minute but pushed his shot wide of Lloyd's far post after a decent through-ball by strike partner Devon Jorsling.
It was Andrei Pacheco who broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when volleying Kern Cupid's cross past Defence Force keeper Kevin Graham, just two minutes after coming off the bench.
But the scores were level at 1-1 in the 89th minute when Defence Force substitute Richard Roy hammered a low free-kick, which took a deflection before beating keeper Lloyd, until Frias secured the points late on for W Connection.
In the opening match, San Juan Jabloteh extended their unbeaten League run to eight matches after registering all three goals within a five-minute period early in the match against Police.
Former Police player Noel Williams was the first to hurt the Lawmen, firing Jabloteh ahead in the seventh minute after making a surging run and teaming up with Jason Marcano up front.
Two minutes later, defender Sheldon Bateau volleyed into the Police net after Marcano's corner was flicked on into his path at the far post, giving Jabloteh a 2-0 cushion.
Marcano then made it 3-0 in the 11th minute after slipping the ball through the legs of Police goalkeeper Anthony Marshall.
Teams
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Michael Edwards (capt), Keston Williams, Devon Jorsling, Kevon Carter, Corey Rivers, Jerwyn Balthazar, Sean Narcis (Owen Matthew 77th), Dexter Pacheco (Ricahrd Roy 86th), Aklie Edwards, Ronald St Louis (Y) (Christopher Durity 77th).
W Connection—Miguel Lloyd, Elijah Joseph (capt), Willian Da Silva Oliveira, Renato Pereria, Kern Cupid, Jonathan Frias, Andre Toussaint, Kelvin Modeste (Christian Viveros 68th), Hughtun Hector (Andrei Pacheco 68th), Igor Santos (Nickcolson Thomas 84th), Gerrard Williams.
San Juan Jabloteh extend lead.
By: Randy Bando (ttproleague).
San Juan Jabloteh extended their unbeaten run in the League to eight matches this season after winning it early against Police FC in Friday night’s Super Friday at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Jabloteh won the match 3-0 registering all three goals within a five minute period early in the match boosting their position at the top of the Digicel Pro League standings to 20 points, seven points clear of closest challengers Caledonia AIA of Morvant Laventille who have two matches in hand.
Police FC remain in tenth position with just five points as the struggle to find footing this season.
Former Police player Noel Williams was the first to hurt the lawmen firing Jabloteh ahead in the 7th minute after making a surging run forward teaming up with Jason Marcano up front.
Two minutes later defender Sheldon Bateau volleyed into the Police net after Jason Marcano’s corner was flicked on into his path at far post giving the leaders a 2-0 cushion.
Jason Marcano then made it 3-0 in the 11th minute after slipping the ball through goalkeeper Anthony Marshall legs, as Jabloteh showed their dominance early.
Marcano failed add another two minutes later wasting time at the edge of the Police area allowing defenders to close him down before hitting a low shot which was gathered comfortably by Marshall.
Ataullah Guerra failed to add to Police’s miseries hitting directly at goalkeeper Marshall after collecting a neat through-ball inside the area a couple minutes later.
Guerra had two more close misses with the better in the 39th minute whisking just wide of Marshall’s far upright after a neat short pass by Devon Jamerson.
Guerra got closer to registering an item of his own hitting the upright in the 41st minute after showing brilliant skill against the Police defence and the rebound was guided just wide by Marcano’s acrobatic attempt.
Macano, Jabloteh’s most mobile player, injured himself in the process and didn’t return to the pitch in the second period with Cyrano Glen filling his position—a change that proved in Police’s favor.
Police’s only real attempt on goal in the first half came in the 45th minute when Kaaron Foster unleashed an ambitious attempt from 25 yards out however it was easily gathered by goalkeeper Cleon John.
Seven minutes into the second half former Jabloteh midfielder Wendell Joseph unleashed a shot from distance proving that there was life in the ‘lawmen’.
Police goalkeeper Marshall then made gather on Guerra’s blast from distance as the Jabloteh midfielder continued to do everything right but put the ball in the back of the net.
Marshall however, had a much better half in the second making a couple good saves, one of which denied substitute Cyrano Glen in the 76th minute.
Police went a man down after Devon Bristol picked up his second yellow of the match in which referee Lee Davis didn’t hesitate to dish out five minutes from time.
Police had a great opportunity in the final minute of regulation time initiated by Hayden Jones in the middle of the park threading a pass to teammate Keion Wilson who whipped in an early cross however Jones directed it over Cleon John’s crossbar.
Cyrano Glen was denied seconds later by the fingertips of Marshall after hitting from outside the area and a couple minutes into injury time, Jabloteh lost wingback Noel Williams to a second yellow card as both teams ended with 10-men each.
Teams
San Juan Jabloteh—Cleon John, Marvin Oliver (capt), Jason Marcano (Cyrano Glen 46th), Sheldon Bateau, Karlon Murray, Noel Williams (Y+Y), Elijah Manners (Y) (Anton Hutchinson 65th), Ataullah Guerra, Robert Primus, Lester Peltier (Willis Plaza 82nd), Devon Jamerson.
Police FC—Anthony Marshall, Keon Archie (capt), Jason James (Y), Devon Bristol (Y+Y), Anthony Campbell (Jabari Samuel 60th), Kaaron Foster, Todd Ryan (Wendell Joseph 46th), Randy Harris, Kelon Williams (Neil Marcano 84th).
Friday Results:
Defence Force 1 (Richard Roy 89th) v W Connection 2 (Andrei Pacheco 70th, Jonathon Frias 90th+)
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Noel Williams 7th, Sheldon Bateau 9th, Jason Marcano 11th) v Police FC 0