T&TEC, Caledonia in final

In the opener, two-time runner-up Caledonia came from behind to edge Adams’ Construction San Juan Jabloteh 2-1 in a match that failed to sparkle.

The San Juan kings, winners in 2000 and 2003 and beaten finalist in 2005 went ahead in the 34th minute via a penalty converted by captain, Marvin Oliver.

This after referee Shane De Silva had whistled for a foul by Caledonia goalkeeper, Jamaican Kevin Graham on Jabloteh speedy striker, Kennedy Hinkson.

However, two minutes into the second-half, Jabloteh goalkeeper gifted Caledonia a chance at an equaliser when he dropped a soft lob at the feet of striker Jamal Gay, who slotted in from less than three feet out.

In the 66th minute, Caledonia got the decisive item when Gay was allowed too much time inside the Jabloteh 18-yard box, before he turned on his fancied right foot and beat John with a low shot to his left.

Despite a late barrage of attacks by Jabloteh which was without suspended defender Joel Russell, Caledonia which was coming off a 1-0 league loss to DirecTV North East Stars held on for the win to move to within one win of claiming the first title of the season.

Goalkeeper Adams guides T&TEC past W Connection

Goalkeeper Akini Adams was the star of the show as he pulled off two saves in the penalty-kick shootout to secure a shocking 4-3 win for T&TEC over six-time winner W Connection after a dull 1-1 draw.

The “Electricity Boys” unbeaten in their three matches prior to kick off took the lead against its much fancied opponents in the 21st minute via former W Connection midfielder Romauld Aguillera.

That lead lasted until the 70th minute when 19-year-old W Connection vice-captain, Shahdon Winchester headed into the path of fellow teenager Britto for a left footed volley which whistled past Adams into the far corner.

T&TEC then had a chance to steal a late win from a Andrei Pacheco free-kick, but luckily for W Connection, winners in 2001 and 2004-2008, the ball ricochet into play off the crossbar to send the match into the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

In the shoot-out, W Connection captain, Hughtun Hector started well for his team while Mekeil Williams and Rennie also scored with the second and fourth attempts.

However, goalkeeper Adams’ showed his agility with low saves, first to his right to deny national  defender, Joevin Jones and then Jerrel Britto, with their team’s third and fifth efforts, respectively.

The Electricity Boys on the other hand scored through, Aguillera, Anthony Noreiga, Sylvester Teesdale and Kevin Modeste, ith the final attempt to secure the upset victory and a date against Caledonia in the final.

The only blemish for T&TEC came from defender Corneal Thomas, who had the second effort saved by Aquelius Sylvester.

Gay's goals kayo Jabloteh.
By Ian Prescott (Express).

A PAIR of Jamal Gay goals were enough to see Caledonia AIA stage a second half comeback to edge Adams Construction San Juan Jabloteh for a spot in the First Citizens Cup final on Friday, October 14 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.

The Morvant-Laventille based Caledonia won 2-1 and will now face newcomers T&TEC, who have reached the final of the very first Cup competition they have played in the professional league.

The exuberant T&TEC footballers raced away into the dressing room after Kevin Modeste struck the spot kick which saw them edge six-time First Citizen Cup champions W Connection 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark.

Earlier, the teams battled to a 1-1 stalemate, former Trinidad & Tobago national team midfielder Romauld Aguillera giving the Electricity Boys a 21st minute lead, only for National Under-20 striker Jerrel Britto to equalise for W Connection in the 70th. But in the shootout, T&TEC goalkeeper Akini Adams made two saves, stopping Joevin Jones and also Britto.

And when Modeste converted the final kick for T&TEC, his teammates went racing away in celebration.

Meanwhile, Gay's 66th minute winner for Caledonia AIA was a pure striker's goal.

Makesi Lewis brought the ball across the penalty area from the right, but a little behind Gay, who used all of his six-foot-two-inch frame to pull in the ball.

With his back to the goal, Gay held off his maker, then spun and delivered a low shot which sent the ball past the dive of the very capable keeper Cleon John, and deep into the corner of the San Juan Jabloteh net.

Gay had earlier brought Caledonia level at 1-1 in the 47th when he rifled a rebound into the net from close up. Jabloteh keeper John did well to palm away a close-range volley from teenaged Guyanese striker Trayon Bobb, but could do nothing about the second shot.

In the first half, Jabloteh made much of the running and both strikers Willis Plaza and Jason Marcano were constant threats to the Caledonia goal.

Jabloteh eventually took the lead in the 34th through a Marvin Oliver penalty, which resulted when Caledonia AIA's Jamaican keeper Kevin Graham panicked and brought Kennedy Hinkson down in the penalty area.

Hinkson attempted a volley, completely missed, but the keeper's momentum took him out.

And Jabloteh also went close to increasing their lead mere seconds into the second session through a long-distance shot from in-form striker Plaza which forced a superb save from AIA's Jamaican keeper.

Even though Gay equalised soon after, the match could have gone either way. Jabloteh left- defender Jamaal Jack produced a meandering solo run before shooting marginally wide of the far post in the 56th, and in the 75th Marcano also cracked a 25 metre drive which saw the keeper tip the ball over the bar, before he ended up partially inside the net. However, there would be no further scoring except for Gay's well-taken goal.

FIRST CITIZENS CUP SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

Caledonia AIA 2 (Jamal Gay 47', 66') v San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Marvin Oliver 34' - penalty)

W Connection 1 (Jerrel Britto 70') v T&TEC 1 (Romauld Aguillera 21')
(T&TEC won 4-3 on kicks from the penalty mark)