Willis Plaza scored from the penalty spot to earn defending champion Central FC a 2-2 draw with Defence Force when matches in the Digicel T&T Pro League resumed on Tuesday after a break for international Fifa matches and the early rounds of the First Citizens Cup.
With the drawn result at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, Central FC moved to four points from two matches, the same as Japs’ North East Stars which battled to an entertaining 4-4 draw with Police FC, in the early match at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
However, down at Couva, Central, led this season by former two-time league winning coach of Defence Force, Ross Russell, got the go-ahead goal in the 20th minute through forward Marcus Joseph—the pre-season signing completing a move which started from a free-kick for his first goal for the Couva Sharks.
But two minutes later, Defence Force tied the scores 1-1 when forward Kellon Serrette, starting ahead of Devorn Jorlsing and Richard Roy, scored from close range after a failed attempt from a team-mate in the six-yard area.
Defence Force later took to the half with a 2-1 lead, thanks to a goal in the 25th minute by veteran midfielder and team captain Jerwyn Balthazar, who found the far side of goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams netting following a defensive slip-up by the “Couva Sharks”.
Five minutes after the resumption, Sean De Silva almost drew Central level, however his well placed free-kick was brilliantly kept out by Defence Force goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke.
The “Teteron Men” then had a chance to add a further blow to Central on the hour mark, but midfielder Kerry Joseph smashed his strike low and wide of goal from the penalty spot, after referee Rashby Mc Phie had blown for a handball in the area by Central defender Jamal Jack.
Initially, Mc Phie had allowed play to continue temporarily but wisely consulted his assistant referee Dennis Changiah who waved for the infringement.
That missed effort came back to haunt Defence Force in the 64th minute when Plaza converted from the spot past goalkeeper Clarke to level the score at 2-2 for Central, following a could by defender Curtis Gonzales on Kevon Villaroel inside the 18-yard-box.
Joseph then had a chance to put Central ahead in the 68th minute from a free-kick but he too was thwarted by Clarke while at the other end, Williams also made a crucial stop in stoppage time to blank Defence Force substitute Dave Long as coaches Russell and Gordon had to settle for a point a piece.
It was one of four drawn encounters while Pt Fortin Civic stood the only winner of the day, 2-0 over Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh 2-0 with forwards Shackiel Henry and Jamille Boatswain getting on the scoresheet in the 50th and 84th minutes, respectively, at the Mahaica Oval in Point Fortin.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, W Connection and Morvant Caledonia United battled to a 1-1 deadlock, in a preview of Friday’s First Citizens Cup semi-final carded for Couva from 6 pm while St Ann’s Rangers and Club Sando ended 2-2.
In the second First Citizens Cup semi-final, two-time defending champions Central faces Club Sando at Couva from 8 pm.
Results
St Ann’s Rangers 2 (Jelani Peters 62nd, 89th) vs Club Sando 2 (Anthony Paris 80th, 90th)
Morvant Caledonia Utd 1 (Jameel Neptune 84th) vs W Connection 1 (Jomal Williams 60th)
Pt Fortin Civic 2 (Sharkeil Henry 50th, Jamille Boatswain 84th) vs San Juan Jabloteh 0
Central FC 2 (Marcus Joseph 20th, Willis Plaza 64th) vs Defence Force 2 (Kellon Serette 22nd, Jerwyn Balthazar 25’)
N/East Stars 4 (Keron Cummings 22nd, Brendon Figuera 28th, Duane Muckett 58th, Dillon Jaggesar 84th) vs Police FC 4 (Jameel Perry 34th, Kareem Freitas 81st, 90th+, Anton Hutchinson 90th)