Bmobile Joe Public secured its place in the Final of the 2009 Toyota Classic against defending champions San Juan Jabloteh following a hard fought 3-2 penalty win over Ma Pau SC on Friday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium.
Public seeking its third title this season will meet Jabloteh from 8pm at the same Macoya venue next Friday but will defintely agree that getting past Ma Pau was their greatest hurdle throughout the competition.
The 2009 Digicel Pro League and Big Six champions needed a superb Trent Noel free kick in the 83rd minute to tie the match 1-1 after former player Lyndon Andrews had given the Woodbrook club the lead six minutes earlier from another set piece.
That score line remained and both teams had to test eachother from the penalty spot.
Ma Pau goalie Shane Mattis made two stops denying Carlyle Mitchell and Japanese Yu Hoshide however he wasn't backed by teammates Curtis Gonzales, Sayid Freitas and Kerry Noray failed on their kicks to hand Joe Public a 3-2 penalty win.
The first half had little action in front of goal with only Joe Public coming close on a couple occasions in a tightly contested semifinal.
Trent Noel had a tame shot at Mattis who gathered comfortably in the 23rd minute and twenty minutes later Micah Lewis was denied by the Ma Pau Jamaican goalie after unleashing a shot from 20 yards out.
Joe Public's second half introductions Hayden Tinto and Conrad Smith both came close to hitting the mark not long after making their entrances.
But from a set play in the 76th minute former Lions player Lyndon Andrews whipped a curling effort past Alejandro Figueroa to break the deadlock 1-0 after substitute Shandel Samuel was brought down just outside the area.
But Public pulled the scores level in the 83rd minute by a superb freekick of their own through Trent Noel after Carlyle Mitchell went to ground under a defensive challenge by one Ma Pau defender.
Noel's 23 yard direct kick curled over the wall and inside the top left upright before landing into the far side netting giving goalkeeper Mattis no chance.
In the earlier semifinal San Juan Jabloteh held on for a 4-3 win over St Ann's Rangers to advance into next Friday's Final.
Ma Pau SC (2) 1-1 (3) Joe Public
Lyndon Andrews 76' ; Trent Noel 83'
Penalties
Joe Public
Trent Noel (scored)
Carlyle Mitchell (saved)
Yu Hoshide (saved)
Conrad Smith (scored)
Jean-Luc Rochford (scored)
Ma Pau SC
Anthony Wolfe (scored)
Curtis Gonzales (missed)
Sayid Freitas (saved)
Shandel Samuel (scored)
Kerry Noray (missed)
Ma Pau SC--Shane Mattis, Lyndon Andrews (capt.), Rennie Britto (Shandel Samuel 73rd), Anthony Wolfe, Sayid Freitas, Kerry Noray, Curtis Gonzales, Kevin Molino, Mekeil Williams, Dwayne James, Trevin Caesar (Aquil Selby 88th).
Coach--Michael McComie.
Joe Public--Alejandro Figueroa, Kerry Baptiste (capt.) (Conrad Smith 65th), Carlyle Mitchell, Seon Power, Trent Noel, Keyeno Thomas, Keion Goodridge, Gorean Highley, Yu Hoshide, Micah Lewis (Hayden Tinto 59th), Kareem Young (Jean-Luc Rochford 73rd).
Coach--Derek King.
Joe Public penalise Ma Pau.
By Lasana Liburd (tnttimes.com).
Upstarts Ma Pau came within 13 minutes of a memorable upset in the semifinal round of the Toyota Classic Competition at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Friday night. But who could begrudge Bmobile Joe Public another stirring comeback?
Ma Pau have enjoyed a stirring season under the leadership of former Public coach Michael McComie and his assistant Angus Eve and the “Casino Boys” were again full of honest endeavour and bravado. Team captain Lyndon Andrews and goalkeeper Shane Mattis contributed to an almighty push too.
But, when the dust settled, the “Eastern Lions” ruled the den courtesy a 3-2 penalty shoot out triumph following their 1-1 regulation time stalemate. Public now face Blink San Juan Jabloteh in next Friday’s Classic final.
Jabloteh outpaced St Ann’s Rangers in a 4-3 goal-fest at the same venue on Friday. But the clash between Public and Ma Pau was surely a more satisfying match-up for the discerning patron.
Public versus Ma Pau was a game of chess; not checkers. Only twice was a goalkeeper required to produce a save in the opening 45 minutes. In the 43rd minute, Mattis dived full length to his left to palm away Public winger Micah Lewis strike and, seconds later, the Jamaican goalkeeper tipped over a half volley from Public’s Japanese midfielder Yu Hoshide.
Yet, despite a shortage of goalmouth action, the game was an intriguing, committed contest.
Ma Pau played with a line of five across the midfield that sought to interrupt the machinations of the Public midfield. Rennie Britto seemed to have a specific assignment as he was rarely more than an arm’s length away from Hoshide.
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