Jomoul Francois scored a beaver-trick as two-time Toyota Classic runner-up, Japs North East Stars blasted Siparia Spurs 8-0 in their round-of-16 Group B clash at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Wednesday night.
A former St Anthony’s College standout, midfielder Francois got his goals in the 13th, 63rd, 64th and 75th minutes while T&T international midfielder Kerron “Ball Pest” Cummings added a double in the 14th and 47th minutes for the Sangre Grande-based club which led 3-0 at the half.
Former T&T youth national standout Gorean Highley had opened the scoring for Stars in the ninth minute, while Dillon Jaggasar also netted in the 71st in the one-sided contest.
Stars now awaits the winner of tonight’s other Group B round-of-16 clash between three-time winner DirecTV W Connection, recent winners of the First Citizens Cup for a record seventh time, and Club Sando at Mahaica Oval, Pt Fortin from 5.30pm.
Also on Wednesday, Morvant Caledonia United (MCU) and Super League outfit FC Santa Rosa advanced to the last-eight at the expense of Super League duo,
In the opening match at Macoya, FC Santa Rosa got a 72nd minute strike from Devon King to edge Defence Force (Super League) 1-0 and will face the winner of tomorrow’s match between Pro League duo, St Ann’s Rangers and Defence Force which is carded for Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, from 3pm.
And in the lone match at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, Morvant Caledonia United, which has never reached the final, overcame a tricky test from Super League’s 1976 Tobago Phoenix 5-3.
Morvant Caledonia United looked set for an easy passage into the last-eight after taking a 3-0 lead through goals from Eugine Kirwon (3rd), Akem Roach (12th) and Densil Theobald (22nd).
However, Phoenix hit back via Stefano Wright (31st) and Dominic Mc Dougal (45th) to trail 3-2 at the half, and eight minutes after the re-start, Lejandro Williams drew Tobagonians level.
Roach then got a second in the 67th for Morvant Caledonia United to lead 4-3 and on the stroke of full-time Kennedy Isles sealed victory for the Jerry Moe-coached team with a fifth.
Morvant Caledonia United now advances to the last-eight where it faces the winner of tonight’s second match at Mahaica Oval, between Central FC and Pt Fortin from 8pm.
On Sunday, the remaining two round-of-16 matches will come off with Super League leaders and recent knockout winners, Guaya United hosting Police FC at Guayaguayare Recreation Ground, while Marabella Family Crisis Centre tackle two-time winner and defending champion Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh at Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, both from 3pm
Last season the Keith Jeffrey-led Play Whe San Jabloteh defeated Pt Fortin Civic 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the final for the club’s first title in six years.
This season the Toyota Classic will feature an increased champions’ prize of $75,000, dwarfing the previous $50,000 offered, while the runners-up will receive $20,000.