Kareem Perry fired in an 83rd minute winner as Police FC stunned leaders FC Santa Rosa 2-1 in a heated contest in the T&T Football Association National Super League Premier Division at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Sunday.
The Lawmen took the lead in the 34th minute but Santa Rosa drew level thanks to an own goal in the 66th before Perry banged in the winner with seven minutes left on the club.
However, the match was marred by a mini-brawl involving players from both clubs. Four yellow-cards, two for Santa Rosa, and Police FC’s Nykell James, the second of which came in the 87th.
Despite the loss, Santa Rosa remained top of the 14-team table with 41 points, three more than defending champions, Defence Force which won by a similar, 2-1 margin over 1976 FC Phoenix at Canaan Recreation Ground, Bon Accord, Tobago while Police FC is now third with 32 points, the same as Club Sando Moruga, but with a match in hand.
Phoenix took the lead two minutes before the break through Dominique Kerr, only for Josimar Belgrave to fire in his league leading 23rd item of the campaign to get Defence Force.
Ronald “Sharky” St Louis then got the decisive item for Defence Force in the 79th minute after which they held on for the valauble win to close to within two points with six matches left for both teams and the top two teams set to meet on Sunday at Chaguaramas.
In other matches, Club Sando Moruga and last year’s runner-up Guaya United drew 1-1; Petrotrin Palo Seco and Real Maracas Fc fought out a 4-4 draw; Matura Re United and WASA FC drew goalless; Queen’s Park Cricket Club and Bethel United drew 2-2, and Marabella Family Crisis Centre spanked Siparia Spurs, 4-2.
Results
Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 50th, Ronald St Louis 79th) vs 1976 FC Phoenix 1 (Dominique Kerr 43rd)
Police FC 2 (Keron Clarke 34th, Kareem Perry 83rd) vs Santa Rosa 1 (own goal 66th)
Bethel Utd 2 (Dwane Marcelle 49th, Kevon Woodley 70th) vs QPCC 2 (Kevaughn John 53rd, 81st)
Guaya United 1 (Jody Allsop 67th) vs Club Sando Moruga 1 (Nigel John 5th)
Matura Re United 0 vs WASA FC 0, Arima Municipal Stadium, 3.30pmMarabella Family 4 (Kerville Jeremiah 15th, Juma Clarence 25th, 64th, Kurlan Khan 31st) vs Siparia Spurs 2 (Marvin Seuradge 37th, Marcus Kelly 80th)
Petrotrin Palo Seco 4 (Tigana Sparks 19th, 32nd, Xavier Seales 63rd, Bevon Bass 86th) vs Real Maracas 4 (Marvin Manswell 21st, Kheelon Mitchell 54th, 80th, Ricardo Bennette 82nd)
Latest Premier Division standings
Teams P W D L GF GA Pts
1. Santa Rosa 20 12 5 3 42 20 41
2. Defence Force 20 11 5 4 48 37 38
3. Police FC 19 9 5 5 31 22 32
4. Club Sando Moruga 20 9 5 6 35 38 32
5. Siparia Spurs 20 9 4 7 47 43 31
6. Guaya Utd 20 8 5 7 39 33 29
7. Matura Re Utd 20 8 5 7 41 45 29
8. Petrotrin P/Seco 20 8 3 9 49 43 27
9. 1976 Phoenix 20 5 10 5 33 30 25
10. Real Maracas 20 7 4 9 37 36 25
11. WASA FC 19 6 4 9 26 38 22
12. Bethel Utd 20 5 5 10 32 46 20
13. QPCC 20 4 6 10 32 42 18
14. Marabella Family 20 4 2 14 26 45 14
Sunday’s Matches
Defence Force vs FC Santa Rosa, D/Force Headquarters, Chaguaramas, 3.30 pm
1976 FC Phoenix vs Bethel Utd, Canaan Ground, Bon Accord, 5 pm
Police FC vs Siparia Spurs, St James Police Barracks (inside field), 3.30 pm
QPCC vs Petrotrin Palo Seco, St Mary’s Ground, Serpentine Rd, St Clair, 3.30 pm
Marabella Family CC vs Guaya United, Guaracara Park, Point-a-Pierre, 3.30 pm
Real Maracas vs WASA FC, Maracas Valley Rec. Grd, 4 pm
Club Sando Moruga vs Matura Re United, Grand Chemin Rec. Ground, 3.30 pm
11