Current Digicel T&T Pro League leaders, Central FC and Japs North East Stars completed an all-Pro League semifinal line-up in the 2014/2015 T&T Football Federation FA Trophy competition after contrasting quarterfinals win on Sunday night.
At the St James Police Barracks Training Ground, Willis scored one goal and assisted on the other as Central FC kept on course for yet another trophy this season with a 2-0 blanking of Police, previous FA Trophy champions in 1975, 1999 and 1994
However, the Zoran Vranes-coached "Sharks" did not have things all their way as goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams was called into action in the first-half on a few occasions to keep his team, which opted to leave Leston Paul, Ataulla Guerra, Marvin Oliver, Sean De Silva and Rundell Winchester either out the team or on the bench, level at the break.
In a very evenly matched contest, Central eventually took the lead in the 61st minute when Plaza weaved his way to the byeline on the right side of the Police 18-yard box, and squared back a pass to an unmarked Jason Marcano, who without hesitation guided the ball past stranded Police goalkeeper Adrian Foncein.
Plaza then sealed a spot in the last four of the competition for his team in the 75th, when he ran onto a through ball on the left side of the penalty-area and with Foncette closing in, he claverly lifted the ball past him and into the far corner for Central FC, runners-up in the last two editions of the tournament.
Up at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, 2003 winner North East Star raced into a 3-0 lead over six-time winners Defence Force, before hanging on a for a 3-2 triumph,
The Sangre Grande-based Stars which edged Defence 3-2 in a league meeting at the same venue last Tuesday, got goals from Neveal Hackshaw (14th), Kaashif Thomas (28th) and Jomoul Francois (39th) to be coasting at 3-0.
But on the stroke of half-time Rodell Elcock pulled a goal back for the "Teteron Boys" who won the title in 1974, 1981, 1985, 1989, 1991 and 1996, and were hoping to join Maple and Malvern as record seven-time champions.
Seven minutes into the second-half, lanky midfielder Ross Russell Jr, fired in a second for Defence Force to trail, 2-3, but in the end Stars' held on for the win and semifinal spot.
Earlier on Sunday, four-time winners and reigning champions DirecTV W Connection and Play When San Juan Jabloteh, three-time winners battled to quarterfinals win over St Francois Nationals and Club Sando, respectively.
At the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, W Connection, the 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2013-2014 winners edged St Francois Nationals 5-3 penalty-kicks after a 0-0 draw.
And at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Jabloteh, winners in 1998, 2005 and 2010-2011, held off Pro League-bound
Club Sando led by former national Under-20 striker Brent Sam who set up one goal and also scored in his team's 3-2 win.
Another former U-20 player, Coneal Thomas, put Jabloteh ahead after 28th minutes, but Kevon Woodley replied for Club Sando six minutes before the break for a 1-1 score.
Sam then provided Jamaican Newton Sterling with the pass to restore Jabloteh's slim lead at 2-1 in the 63rd minute before he got on the scoresheet himself four minutes later for a 3-1 cushion.
With the seconds ticking away, former Jabloteh and national utility player Nigel Daniel curled in a free-kick for Club Sando, but it was too late. The draw for the semifinals takes place tomorrow.
Results
Sunday T&TFA FA Trophy quarterfinals results:
Jabloteh 3 (Coneal Thomas 28th, Newton Sterling 63rd, Brent Sam 67th) vs Club Sando 2 (Kevon Woodley 39th, Nigel Daniel 90th+4)
Central FC 2 (Jason Marcano 61st, Willis Plaza 75th) vs Police FC 0
N/East Stars 3 (Neveal Hackshaw 14th, Kashif Thomas 28th, Jomoul Francois 39th) vs D/Force 2 (Rodell Elcock 45th, Ross Russell Jr 52nd)
W Connection 0 vs St Francois Nationals 0 - W Connection won 5-3 on penalty-kicks
