Ten men Ma Pau SC gave a hard fought comeback on Friday night to hold visiting W Connection to a 2-2 draw at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Round One Match Day Four.
Connection had early control of the Digicel Pro League Championship match with a two goal cushion within the first ten minutes through goals by Andrei Pacheco, and Brazilian Francisco Neto.
However, the Stuart Charles Fevrier coached side allowed that cushion to slip away conceding a goal on either side of the half and settling for shared points.
Connection maintained its second position in the League standings, now with 7 points and two behind leaders Defence Force who will be in action from 4pm at the Larry Gomes Stadium on Saturday against FC SouthEnd.
Connection were lucky in the 24th minute when Elton John’s powerful curling freekick from 24 yards out rocked Williams’ crossbar.
But Tobagonian Trevin Caesar pulled back a goal in the 37th minute when he sent a left footed scorcher from distance well wide of a fully outstretched goalkeeper Jan Michael Williams after a neat exchange of passes by Ma Pau.
The Michael McComie coached side took to the dressing room trailing 1-2; however, they were in a better position than when Pacheco’s left footed freekick from outside the area defeated goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa in the 6th minute, and Neto guided Hector’s cross into the back of the net in the 10th minute; in a play which started on the counter attack and a powerful run by Matthew Bartholomew down the right.
Ma Pau’s performance lifted in the second period and it seemed that the introduction of their rhythm section drumming away in the stands helped.
Six minutes following the break, and the Woodbrook based club were on level terms when hard working Rennie Britto half volleyed a cross ball past Williams for a 2-2 score.
But Ma Pau went a man down two minutes later when defender Seon Power picked up his second yellow of the night after sending a shoulder tackle into the chest of Connection goalscorer Neto.
Despite playing a man short, Ma Pau never sat back and had a couple decent efforts by substitute Kevin Molino in the 70th minute, and a curling effort wide by Caesar a minute later.
Connection´s closest effort to regain the advantage was substitute Kerron Cummings shot from distance in the 89th minute but that was parried comfortably by Figueroa.
Ma Pau moved a spot up into fourth position in the standings with 6 points, behind third positioned Bmobile Joe Public by goal difference. Public earned a point against sixth positioned Caledonia AIA after a 1-1 draw in the second match of the Super Friday double header.
Ma Pau SC 2—2 W Connection
Trevin Caesar 37', Rennie Britto 51' ; Andrei Pacheco 6', Francisco Neto 10'
Ma Pau SC—Alejandro Figueroa, Lyndon Andrews (capt) (Yellow), Seon Power (Yellow+Yellow=Red), Curtis Gonzales, Mikeil Williams (Kevin Molino 37th), Kemuel Rivers, Rennie Britto (Yellow), Anthony Wolfe (Yellow), Elton John, Shandel Samuel (Devon Jamerson 61st), Trevin Caesar (Shane Calderon 88th).
Coach—Michael McComie.
W Connection—Jan Michael Williams, Elijah Joseph (capt), Renato Pereira, Clyde Leon (Shahdon Winchester 75th), Christian Viveros (Yellow), Francisco Neto, Matthew Bartholomew (Gerard Williams 65th), Hughtun Hector, Andrei Pacheco (Keron Cummings 72nd), Kern Cupid, Joevin Jones.
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier.
Caledonia, Public battle to 1-1 draw
Substitute Marcus Joseph’s second half item earned defending Digicel Pro League champions Bmobile Joe Public a share of the points on Friday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium against home side Caledonia AIA of Morvant/Laventille.
Caledonia held a 1-0 advantage from the 28th minute when Ryan Stewart slotted a shot past goalkeeper Marvin Phillip before Joseph equalized twelve minutes after his introduction.
Joseph held his composure in the 58th minute when he controlled Hayden Tinto’s cross before slamming a powerful shot from a tight angle past Kevin Graham, and clipping the crossbar before it bounced unto the ground and up into the net for a 1-1 score.
Caledonia utilized their excellent passing game, however slipped up on many occasions in the final third. Joe Public however, lost forward Kerry Baptiste fifteen minutes into the match due to a hamstring injury, and were without influential midfielder Trent Noel for Friday’s game.
Trent Lougheed who replaced the injured Baptiste had an opportunity to go for goal in the 64th minute but he blasted wide after meeting Tinto pass.
Teammate Micah Lewis had the last opening of the match, but he squandered high and wide in injury time after picking up an Andre Toussaint short pass inside the area.
Joe Public remained third with 6 points, one point behind second positioned W Connection, and three behind leaders Defence Force. Ma Pau are fourth with 6 points, North East Stars fifth with five points and Caledonia sixth with four points.
Caledonia AIA 1—1 Joe Public
Ryan Stewart 28' ; Marcus Joseph 58'
Caledonia AIA—Kevin Graham, Stephan David (capt), Kareem Joseph, Abdallah Phillip (Sherron Joseph 81st), Walter Moore, Densill Theobald, Akim Armstrong (Jean-Luc Rochford 76th), Nuru Abdulla Muhammed, Shawn Beveny (Hayden Vincent 64th), Daneil Cyrus.
Joe Public—Marvin Phillip, Kerry Baptiste (capt) (Trent Lougheed 15th), Jevon Morris, Carlyle Mitchell (Yellow), Keion Goodridge, Makan Hislop, Gorean Highley (Marcus Joseph 46th), Kareem Young, Yu Hoshide (Micah Lewis 67th), Andre Toussaint, Hayden Tinto.