…but on the backdrop sounds of Sando
DIRECTV W Connection are the Toyota Classic champions for a third time in tournament’s nine-year history.
On Saturday forward Hashim Arcia scored one and set up another as Connection held off Super League leaders Club Sando 2-0 in the Final of the 2013 Toyota Classic to be crowned proud champions.
But that didn’t silence the chanting of hundreds of Sando supporters – many of which were clad in supporter’s jerseys – that made the journey to the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
“Sando! Sando! Sando!” they cheered nonstop. And there was no stopping the loyal Sando supporters even as the curtains came down.
“I give (my players) real credit,” said Club Sando head coach Anthony Streete proudly, despite losing the Final.
“I’m going to the dressing room now and really applaud them, because to reach (the Final), we became the first Super League team to reach the Toyota Classic [Final] and that’s a proud moment for me and the supporters.”
Last weekend Sando became the first ever Super League outfit to reach the Final of the Classic, by defeating Defence Force 3-2 in the semi-final round, while Connection ousted Guaya United 3-0.
“I give all credit to all the supporters,” continued Streete. “I thank them for sticking behind the team, and I ask them to continue.”
Arcia netted his third goal of the tournament to hand Connection a 1-0 lead in as early as the 11th minute after he collected a Neil Benjamin Jr. pass on the right and sent a perfect strike into goalkeeper Andre Marchan's far netting.
The lanky forward, who sent a strike just wide of the upright three minutes into the match, also played the pass to second half substitute Jomal Williams for Connection’s second item in the 79th minute.
Jomal, who replaced Colombian midfielder Yefer Lozano in the 66th minute, executed a superb strike from 24 yards out to beat former club-mate, goalkeeper Marchan in the upper corner for a 2-0 Connection cushion.
“A lot of people had the strange thought that a Super League team can beat us(W Connection), so we put our feet on the ground and went for (the victory),” said Arcia.
Connection head coach Stuart Charles Fevrier also thought it was important to prove that the Super League wasn’t better than the Pro League, although many of Club Sando’s players and even its coach, Streete, are all former members of the professional league.
“It was important for us to win for many reasons,” said Fevrier who led Connection to the inaugural Toyota Classic title in 2005 and again in 2011.
“Today we had to defend professional football as well. To me that was an important reason. We won because we were the only professional team left in the competition and we felt that the onus was on us to defend local professional football.”
Three minutes after the Arcia item, Connection had a great opportunity to find the back of the net again, however Joevin Jones disappointingly guided Benjamin’s cross high and wide with Marchan at his mercy within the six yard area.
Benjamin had an opening himself after making a steal in the 29th minute but curled his intended effort towards the far post, too high.
Former W Connection player Kern Cupid was very ambitious for Sando in the 20th minute with a strike overbar from 22 yards out. And from a similar position in the 34th minute Ryan Fredericks also struck overbar as Sando looked for the equaliser.
Sando had a decent buildup on a counterattack in the 39th minute but lost their patience by the final third and only won themselves a wide effort from 26 yards out by Devon Modeste.
The former St. Ann’s Rangers attacker then won his side a free-kick in the 42nd minute but Kemuel Rivers' take was also wide of the Connection goal.
In the 45th minute Rivers, another former Connection player, dribbled his way into the area and squared a cross which was inches to high for the liking of Modeste inside the six yard area as Sando again failed to find the back of the net.
Two minutes inside the second period Sando were unlucky in front of goal after Connection goalkeeper Julani Archibald spilled Cupid's cross which was headed up by defender Russell. Teba McKnight, another former Connection player, hooked the spilled ball across the area to find teammate Kerron Smith who wasted just wide of the far upright.
Mc Knight was limited in a match dominated by the presence of Connection skipper and defensive midfielder Gerard Williams, who was by far the MVP of the Final. Even Arcia was overlooked for the award.
Instead it was Sando’s Cupid that members of the tournament sponsor – Toyota Trinidad and Tobago – selected as their MVP of the Final.
But the humble St. Kitts/Nevis international was simply elated to lead Connection to the title as captain.
“This isn’t my first (title with W Connection,” said G.Williams. “But it’s my first (title) as captain. So I feel great tonight.
“I was motivated for the game. I wanted to win the trophy for the team as captain for the first time. I’m thankful that we played as a team and we deserve it in the end.
“Sometimes it is difficult being captain, but with the responsibilities, you have to just work had and try your best so everybody can look up to you and see you as a better leader,” ended the 25 year-old.
W Connection survived an indirect free-kick two yards inside the area in the 63rd minute and in the 74th minute needed brilliant save out of Archibald to deny Rivers from a free-kick just outside the area.
Connection later doubled their advantage, but were lucky not to concede in the 86th minute thanks to back-to-back saves by Archibald.
First the St. Kitts/Nevis international goalie kept out a Rivers’ strike, then the follow-up header by McKnight before the second rebound was hit just wide of the far upper corner by former Connection midfielder Devon Drayton.
And in the 90th minute Cupid’s strike from distance earned him applause after it swooshed just wide of the far upright.
It was the total opposite reaction from the Sando fans towards referee Neil Brizan though. The official, who once stopped the match for fan-interruption was booed by angry Sando fans.
Nevertheless an entertaining tournament and Final prevailed.
“I think the game was a good game,” admitted Streete. “W Connection showed their experience and dominance in the football. I told my players before the match to just go out and enjoy themselves and have a good game because we did good to reach (the Final).
We reached (the Final) and yes we wanted to win but we knew we were coming up against a good team, a better team in the sense of maturity. But I think my players stood up to the task and gave a good performance.”
It was business for Connection however.
“The most important thing from our standpoint was to win the game … to get the result. We had all the hard work in the other games, and today was the day to crown ourselves champions.
Results
Club Sando 0 – 2 W Connection
Hashim Arcia 11', Jomal Williams 79’
Teams
Club Sando—1. Andre Marchan, 11. Teba McKnight (capt.), 4. Anthony Parris, 5. Devon Drayton (Yellow Card), 6. Kemuel Rivers (Yellow Card), 8. Kerron Smith (9. Jesse Downing 77th), 13. Kern Cupid, 19. Ryan Fredericks, 20. Dwayne Charles, 22. Corneal Thomas, 24. Devon Modeste (Yellow Card)
Unused substitutes—33. Alexei Julian (GK), 10. Andy London, 21. Randy Britto, 18. Andre Phillip, 25. Odelle Armstrong
Coach—Anthony Streete
W Connection—18. Jelani Archibald, 3. Gerard Williams (capt.), 15. Mekeil Williams, 10. Joevin Jones, 14. Hashim Arcia, 7. Silvio Spann (6. Celio Da Silva Santos 83rd), 19. Leslie Joel Russell, 24. Joao Ananias Jordao Jr., 27. Yefer Lozano (40. Jomal Williams 66th), 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (29. Mickaeel Gem Gordon 74th) 2. Kurt Frederick (Yellow Card)
Unused substitutes—22. Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 25. Christian Viveros, 39. Alvin Jones, 28. Jhon Stiven Reyes Lopez
Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier