Defence Force continued its recent good run in the T&T Football Federation National Super League with a 4-2 penalty-kicks win over WASA after a 3-3 draw in their T&T Football Association FA Trophy qualifier on Wednesday.
Playing away from home at the Chaguaramas Youth Camp, Macqueripe Ground, WASA stormed into a 2-0 lead via a brace from Kerron Clarke, in the 15th and 25th which it took into the half.
However, Defence Force looked a different team on the resumption and drew level within ten minutes at 2-2 when Michael Edwards (51st) and an own goal from Phillip Nelson, four minutes later.
But within two minutes, WASA, second on the league regain a narrow edge courtesy a goal from record Soca Warriors goalscorer for a 3-2 advantage.
WASA looked set to hold onto the lead, but with ten minutes left in the match, Kevon Blackman got Defence Force on level terms for the second time in the match to send the match into the dreaded penalty-kicks shoot-out where his team prevailed, 4-2.
At the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Fc Santa Rosa had a much easier outing as it came from behind to crush Malabar FC 6-2 led by a double from Rashad Griffith.
Griffith netted a fifth minute penalty and in the 73rd minute while Desmond Baptiste (32nd), Jovan Rochford (56th), Aieon Charles (58th) and Kerron Reid (69th) added one each.
This after Xae Pierre De Four had given Malabar a second minute lead while Michael Hospedales got the other in the 40th.
Also on Wednesday, Corey Cyrus was the lone scorer as Petrotrin Palo Seco edgged Guaya United 1-0 at Guaya Recreation Ground in one of two re-scheduled league matches to stay in the title race.
Cyrus netted in the 20th minute for Petrotrin Palo Seco to climb to 26 points from 12 matches, the same as WASA which has a match in hand and five behind leaders Club Sando.
In the other match, Siparia Spurs (18 pts) was held to a 1-1 draw by 1976 FC Phoenix (17 pts) at Fyzabad.
Super League T&TFF FA Trophy qualifiers
Wednesday Results:
Defence Force 3 (Michael Edwards 51st, Phillip Newton 55th o.g, Kevon Blackman 80th) vs WASA 3 (Kerron Clarke 15th, 25th, Stern John 57th)
FC Santa Rosa 6 (Rashad Griffith 5th pen, 73rd, Desmond Baptiste 32nd, Jovan Rochard 56th, Aeion Charles 58th, Kerron Reid 69th) vs Malabar 2 (Xae Pierre De Four 2nd, Michael Hospedales 40th)
Super League Results:
Phoenix 1 (Andel Brown 45th) vs Siparia Spurs 1 (Kerwin Baptiste 51st)
Petrotrin Palo Seco 1 (Corey Cyrus 20th) vs Guaya United 0
Current Standings
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Club Sando 12 10 1 1 48 11 31
WASA 11 8 2 1 24 7 26
Petrotrin Palo Seco 12 8 2 2 30 18 26
Guaya Utd 12 6 3 3 23 17 21
Siparia 12 5 3 4 27 25 18
Las Lomas 12 5 3 4 13 15 18
Phoenix 12 5 2 4 22 17 17
Stokely Vale 11 4 3 4 16 15 15
Defence Force 12 3 6 3 22 22 15
La Horquetta 11 4 3 4 23 24 15
Malabar 11 4 3 4 16 21 15
Santa Rosa 12 2 4 6 14 22 10
Real Maracas 12 1 5 6 17 26 8
Bethel 13 1 3 9 13 31 6
Goal City 12 1 1 9 14 36 4
NB: Joe Public withdrew from tournament
Upcoming Matches
Saturday Nov 1:
Las Lomas United vs La Horquetta SA, Madras Rec. Ground, Cunupia, 4pm
Goal City vs WASA, Plymouth Rec. Grd, 5pm
Defence Force vs Guaya United, Chaguaramas Youth Camp, Macqueripe, 3.30pm
Club Sando vs FC Santa Rosa, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 3.30pm
Sunday Nov 2:
Malabar vs Stokely Vale, Trinity College East, 3.30pm
Real Maracas vs 1976 Phoenix, Maracas Rec. Ground, St Joseph, 5pm
Palo Seco edge Guaya Utd 1-0
T&T Express Reports.
Palo Seco put some space between themselves and Guaya United, when they came away with a 1-0 victory from a rescheduled National Super League match on Wednesday
Corey Cyrus scored the lone goal in the 20th minute, giving Palo Seco victory and keeping them in third spot, but only on goal difference, having now joined second-placed WASA on 26 points.
Having had a winning run stopped, last season’s champions Guaya United remain a close forth. Other league matches saw Siparia Spurs held 1-1 by 1976 FC Phoenix. There were also two Super League FA Trophy qualifying matches played.
WASA were knocked out 4-2 on kicks from the penalty mark by Defence Force following a 3-3 draw in regulation time, and first Santa Rosa FC scored a big 6-2 win over Malabar FC.
NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS
Petrotrin Palo Seco 1 (Corey Cyrus 20) vs Guaya United 0
1976 FC Phoenix 1(Andel Brown 45’) vs Siparia Spurs 1 (Kerwin Baptiste 51’)
SUPER LEAGUE K.O.
Defence Force 3 (Michael Edwards 51; Kevon Blackman 80, Stern John 57) 3 vs WASA 3 (Kerron Clarke 15’ & 25’ Phillip Nelson 55’- own goal).
Defence Force won 4-2 on penalty kicks.
FC Santa Rosa 6 (Rashad Griffith 5’-pen & 73’, Desmond Baptiste 32’, Jovan Rochford 56’, Aeion Charles 58’, Kerron Reid 69’) v Malabar 2 (Xae Pierre De Fou 2’; Michael Hospedales 40’)
UPCOMING NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE MATCHES:
Tomorrow
Coosal’s Las Lomas Utd vs NLCB La Horquetta SA, 4 p.m. , Madras Rec Gd. Cunupia
D’ Lime Bar Goal City, vs WASA FC, 5 p.m., Plymouth Rec Ground
T&T Defence Force vs Guaya United FC, 3.30p.m., Macaripe Youth Camp
Club Sando vs FC Santa Rosa, 6 p.m., Ato Boldon Stadium
Siparia Spurs vs Petrotrin Palo Seco, 3.30 p.m., Palo Seco Velodrome
Sunday
Malabar FC vs Stokely Vale FC, 3.30 p.m., Trinity College East
Real Maracas FC vs 1976 FC Phoenix, 5 p.m. , Maracas Rec Ground, St Joseph
NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE STANDINGS
TEAMS P W D L GF GA GD PTS
Club Sando 12 10 1 1 48 11 37 31
WASA FC 11 8 2 1 24 7 17 26
Petrotrin Palo Seco 12 8 2 2 30 18 12 26
Guaya United 12 6 3 3 23 17 6 21
Siparia Spurs 12 5 3 4 27 25 2 18
Coosal’s Las Lomas Utd 12 5 3 4 13 15 -2 18
1976 FC Phoenix 12 5 2 4 22 17 5 17
Stokely Vale FC 11 4 3 4 16 15 1 15
T&T Defence Force 12 3 6 3 22 22 0 15
NLCB La Horquetta SA 11 4 3 4 23 24 -1 15
Malabar FC 11 4 3 4 16 21 -5 15
FC Santa Rosa 12 2 4 6 14 22 -8 10
Real Maracas FC 12 1 5 6 17 26 -9 8
Bethel United 13 1 3 9 13 31 -18 6
D’ Lime Bar Goal City 12 1 1 9 14 36 -22 4