T&T Pro League leaders Vibe CT 105 W.Connection and CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh earned the right to contest the T&T Pro Bowl final with victories over Defence Force and Tobago United in their semi-final match-ups at Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella last Friday.
In the most interesting encounter of the night, a virtual North-South clash, W.Connection easily got past Defence Force 4-0 after the teams were deadlocked 0-0- at the halftime interval.
During the first session, the boys from Savonetta created the most chances, Ronaldo Viana, with only goalkeeper Cleon John to beat, kicking over the bar in the 23rd minute, then two minutes later prolific goalscorer Andre Toussaint's low right footer just missed the post with the keeper looking on hopelessly.
Connection's hard-tackling opponents only looked like scoring in the 39th minute when Jevon Jorsling, from six metres out, hit the post, with keeper Alejandro Figueroa going the wrong way.
Immediately after the resumption, the Southerners went in search of the deciding goal and with just two mintes gone, Toussaint missed a penalty, kicking straight to the keeper after captain Earl Jean was brought down by Kenrick Saunders in the 18-metre box.
The Connection coach immediately decided that Toussaint had had enough and he was substituted.
The lads in green and white continued to bombard their rivals' goalmouth and substitute Shane Calderon could have given the Southerners the lead but, with only keeper John in the way, he kicked wide in the 54th minute.
The Army then mounted a counter-attack and almost snatched the lead when Jorsling's right side corner, taken with his left foot, skimmed the bar and defender Atiba Charles headed it out of danger.
Then when it looked like it would be a goaless draw, after 59 minutes of play, William Oliveira fired in a low powerfull drive from just outside the box, giving keeper John no chance and handing the Southerners a 1-0 lead in the closely-contested affair.
Three minutes later, WConnection increased the advantage as substitute Calderon made no mistake with a neat shot from about ten metres out after a through pass from Gefferson Goulart.
Viana made it 3-0 in the 64th when he blasted home after a back-heel from Goulart, putting the game out of the reach of their Northern rivals.
Fourteen minutes from time Defence Force were reduced to nine men when referee Neil Brizan gave defender Kenrick Saunders marching orders for his second bookable offence. Before that, skipper Kelshall Alexander was also shown the red card for a second offence.
In the 86th, Earl Jean brought the crowd to their feet with a superb overhead shot which looked like the "Play of the night" or "goal of the day".
Good defending by the in-form Charles, Elijah Joseph, William Olliveira and Viana cut out any chances that the Army had of scoring.
After the encounter, victorious coach Reynold Carrington said his players put in a lot of hard work and are getting well-deserved results.
"It is now important we go out there and bring home this important trophy next weekend against our arch-rivals Jabloteh," added Carrington.
In the opening game of Friday's double-header, Jabloteh demolished Tobago United 5-0 in a very one-sided affair.
National striker Aurtis Whitley opened the scoring in the 26th and two minutes later it was 2-0 when Kerry Noray netted.
And a minute before the half-time interval it was 3-0 when Nigel Daniel blasted home.
Jabloteh went away leading 3-0 and two minutes after the resumption, Nigel Codrington made it 4-0 then in the 66th Josh Johnson easily beat the keeper.Â
The two powerhouses in T&T football, W.Connection and San Juan Jabloteh, will battle for the $50,000 winner-take-all prize at stake in the Pro Bowl at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
PRO BOWL QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS:
SAN JUAN JABLOTEH 5 (Aurtis Whitley 26th, Kerry Noray 28th, Nigel Daniel 44th, Nigel Codrington 47th, Josh Johnson 66th) vs TOBAGO UNITED 0.
W.CONNECTION 4 (William Oliveira 59th, Shane Calderon 62nd, Ronaldo Viana 64th, Earl Jean 86th) vs DEFENCE FORCE 0.