T&T Pro League duo, Defence Force and North East Stars moved to within one match of claiming their first Toyota Classic titles when they won their semifinal matches in contrasting styles in a double-header on Friday night. This was at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
In the night's opening match, the "Teteron Boys" made certain a new name will be added to the list of trophy winners in the tournament this season when they strolled to a comfortable 3-0 shut-out of two-time winner and defending champion, DirecTV W Connection, while Stars stopped the fairytale run of National Super League's Stokely Vale, 4-1 on penalty-kicks after a 1-1 draw.
For the Ross Russell-coached Defence Force which has reached its second straight final so far this season after losing the First Citizens Cup decider to Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA, defender Rodell Elcock, speedy winger Kevon Carter and substitute Jerwyn Balthazar scored a goal each.
Elcock fired his team ahead on the half-hour mark when he met a Curtis Gonzales centre with precise timing to volley past W Connection goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams from just inside the 18-yard box for a 1-0 advantage.
That score-line lasted well into the second period and after Richard Roy missed an excellent opportunity in the 73rd minute, Carter doubled Defence Force's lead in the 75th minute.
The speedy winger made one of his telling runs down the left before turning past Colombian Christian Viveros and firing past Williams to find the back of the net.
Midfielder Balthazar then wrapped up the 3-0 score in the 85th minute with a clinical finish from outside the area, beating Williams as the ball hit inside the left upright before nestling into the right netting to seal his team's passage into the tournament final for the first time in the competition's eight-year history.
Meanwhile, it's a second Toyota Classic final appearance for Stars and its coach Angus Eve, who was an assistant coach to Michael Mc Comie at Ma Pau SC in 2010, when that club defeated his new employers on penalties in the final.
Stokely Vale entered the match high on confidence after slamming Pro League's Police 5-0 in the round-of-16 before edging past Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club champion, Caledonia AIA 6-5 on sudden-death penalties after a 3-3 draw at Mucurapo, last week.
And against Stars, the Tobagonians were holding their own until the 42nd minute when goalkeeper Victor Thomas, the hero in the win over Caledonia, was beaten by inform striker Cornell Glen's finish from an acute angle to trail 1-0 at the interval.
This after midfielder Kaydion Gabriel put through winger Micah Lewis, who sent a low pass across the six-yard box for Glen to fire into the far corner of the net.
Seven minutes into the second-half, Tyrone Manning, came close to getting Stokely Vale on even terms when he met a Dominic Mc Dougall cross with a powerful header only to be denied by the upright with goalkeeper Cleon John beaten and a minute later the Stars' custodian was called into action to keep out a goalward effort from striker Rundell Winchester.
Glen then had an excellent opportunity in the 71st minute to regain the lead for Stars but headed overbar. A minute later though, the former Soca Warriors World Cup striker brought out a save from Thomas with a powerful blast from distance.
Despite the late pressure from Stars, Stokely Vale managed to hold on until the final whistle, to force penalty-kicks where they found John in a no-nonsense mood.
After Manning scored Stokely Vale's first penalty-attempt, John known for his penalty-saving abilities denied Rohan Sebro and Mc Dougall from the spot while his teammates Glen, Elijah Manners, Kerry Baptiste and captain Seon Power all beat goalkeeper Thomas for the 4-1 penalty-kicks, to reach the final carded for Friday at the same venue from 8 pm.
Friday's results:
N/East Stars 1 (Cornell Glen 42nd) vs Stokely Vale 1 (Tyrone Manning 60th). Stars won 4-1 on penalty-kicks
Defence Force 3 (Rodell Elcock 31st, Kevon Carter 76th, Jerwyn Balthazar 85th) vs W Connection 0
