Digicel T&T Pro League champions, Central FC continued their remarkable season when they got past nine-man DirecTV W Connection 2�1 to lift the 2015 Caribbean Football Union Club Championship crown at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, on Sunday.A goal each from midfielder Jean-Luc Rochford, in a rare start, and makeshift forward Jamal Jack, separated by the break, had Central ahead 2�0 before second-half W Connection substitute Neil Benjamin Jr pulled back a goal in the 90th minute.
Early on, W Connection had the first real chance on goal when Shahdon Winchester unleashed a powerful right footer, but Central FC goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams was equal to the task and pushed the ball around the post for a corner.
Central FC then made its first opening count when the combative Rochford, in his first start under coach Terry Fenwick, who returned as Central FC two months ago, capitalised on a spill by goalkeeper Julani Archibald to net in the 27th minute after the latter failed to hold onto Jason Marcano's attempt from the top of the 18-yard-box.
Twelve minutes into the second half, W Connection introduced striker Hashim Arcia, who was surprisingly left on the bench by coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier, despite scoring hat-tricks against SAP FC and Guyana Defence Force in the previous round at the same venue.But three minutes later, W Connection, winners of the CFU crown in 2002, 2006 and 2009, was reduced to ten men when defender Maurice Ford was shown a second yellow card by Guyanese referee Sherwin Moore.
And four minutes later, it got worse for the "Savonetta Boys" as Gerard Williams was issued a straight red card for a foul on Nathaniel Garcia.Central FC then took full advantage in the 68th minute when defender Jack, utilised as a forward in the absence of injured Dwight Quintero and suspended Willis Plaza, doubled Central FC's lead.
The unmarked Jack was picked out by a Marcano pass into the box and coolly chipped the ball over the advancing Archibald for a 2�0 cushion and within sight of the title.
W Connection then came close to getting on the scoresheet in the 79th when Christian Viveros dragged an effort wide of the target and five minutes later, Arcia, who scored seven goals in the tournament, saw his header off a Jerrel Britto right-sided centre, skim the crossbar, while at the other end Jack was denied by Archibald as he tried to kill off the contest.
The "Savonetta Boys" finally had the ball in the back of the net when Benjamin won it inside the box and blasted past goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, on the stroke of full-time. However it came too late to put a damper on Central's celebration as they captured a third major title this season and sixth overall for the 2014/2015 campaign.
Central also won the 2014-2015 Digicel T&T Pro League, First Citizens Cup, and the Rawle Fletcher, Akeem Adams and Kevon Carter trophies for winning each of the three rounds in the league.The Central "Sharks" will have a chance to add to that tally when they face Caledonia AIA in the Digicel Pro Bowl final on Friday at the same Couva venue.
W Connection, on the other hand, won the season opening Digicel Charity Shield and were runners-up behind Central in the Pro league.Despite the loss, W Connection will join Central at the 2015-2016 Concacaf Champions League after both sides earned automatic berths by reaching Sunday's final.
The clash on Sunday was also the seventh all-Pro League final since 1997, with W Connection, now five-time CFU runners-up, featuring in five of them as well.The T&T duo, were joined in the Concacaf Champions League which kicks off in August by Jamaican Red Stripe Premier League champions Montego Bay United which edged Haitian championship, Don Bosco 1�0 in the third place playoff with Owayne Gordon scoring in the 70th minute.
results
Venue: Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva:
Third Place Match
Don Bosco FC 0 vs Montego Bay United 1 (Owayne Gordon 70')
Final
Central FC 2 (Jean-Luc Rochford 27', Jamal Jack 68') vs W Connection 1 (Neil Benjamin Jr 90')
Final teams
Central FC: Jan-Michael Williams (GK), Elton John, Uriah Bentick, Akeem Benjamin, Sean de Silva 75th minute, Jason Marcano, Marvin Oliver, Nathaniel Garcia, Leston Paul 71st, Jamal Jack, Marcelle Francois, Jean-Luc Rochford, Ataulla Garcia 60th, Keion Goodridge
Unused substitutes: Darren Mitchell, Javon Sample (GK)
Coach: Terry Fenwick
W Connection: Julani Archibald (GK), Stiven Reyes Lopez, Christian Viveros 67th, Gerard Williams, Jomol Williams, Neil Benjamin Jr 69th, Mekeil Williams, Alvin Jones, Hashim Arcia 57th, Shahdon Winchester, Shannon Gomez, Maurice Ford, Jerrel Britto, Devaughn Elliot
Unused substitutes: Aquelius Sylvester (GK), Aaquil Campbell, Triston Hodge, Christian Rodriguez
Coach: Stuart Charles Fevrier