Five different players were on target as Digicel T&T Pro League 2010/2011 runner-up Caledonia AIA blasted Delphic Newtown United of St Kitts/Nevis 5-0 to advance to the second round of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship qualifying series.This was in the second-leg of the first round qualifier at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Saturday night.Going into the return-leg at Mucurapo, the Stallions held a 1-0 lead and only needed a 0-0 draw to set up a meeting with Haitian champion, Tempete.
Twelve minutes into the match, midfielder Ryan Stewart enhanced Caledonia chances of achieving its goal when he opened the scoring for a 2-0 aggregate lead and three minutes before the half, Jean-Luc Rochford who netted the lone goal in the win at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts/Nevis ten days ago made it 2-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate.Three minutes into the second-half the tie was all but over when winger Kareem Joseph made it 3-0 before strikers, Akim Armstrong (64th) and newly signed Kevon Woodley, a second-half introduction for Rochford made it 5-0 on the night with two minutes left in the match and 6-0 on aggregate.Speaking after the match, Caledonia coach, Jamaal Shabazz praised his players for sticking to the task at hand.
"I must pay credit to the guys because I thought they remained focussed on the job at hand and showed their superiority over Newtown United in every department.""We also showed a bit more maturity in the way we controlled the pace of the match.During the match, Caledonia also introduced two newcomers to CFU action in teenaged Guyanese players Trayon Bobb and Kevon Woodley of Tobago, with the latter scoring on debut.A former national goalkeeper Shabazz applauded the efforts of the two players."They did a good job in their first showing and for Woodley to get on the score-sheet in his first match was very welcoming.
Despite the comfortable win, Shabazz said he was a little put off but his team's finishing though."The finishing was a bit scary at times but in saying that we still managed to find the target five times which is good by any standard."Overall the Caledonia coach felt very satisfied with the outcome considering the amount of resources and effort his club and players put into the match.Looking ahead to the second-round tie against Tempete which will earn the winner a place in the semifinal round in T&T, Shabazz said his team will be ready for the challenge.
Shabazz was also looking forward to having national striker Juma Clarence in the team for the next round.Clarence missed the match against Newtown as his clearance from his Turkish Club Hacettepe Spor Kulubu was not granted in time.The second round tie between Caledonia and Tempete is scheduled for April 12–14 and April 22–24, while the semifinal will take place in T&T from May 25 with the final and third-place games set for four days later.The semifinal winners and third placed club will qualify for the 2011/2012 Concacaf Champions League.
results
First Round qualifier
Second-Leg
Venue: Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
Score: Caledonia 5 (Ryan Stewart 12th, Jean-Luc Rochford 42nd, Kareem Joseph 48th, Akim Armstrong 64th, Kevon Woodley 88th) vs Newtown Utd 0. Caledonia won tie 6-0 on aggregate.
Venue: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella
Score: Defence Force 3 (Sean Narcis 13th, Michael Edwards 74th, 87th) vs Dandy Town Hornets 0. Defence Force won 4-1 on aggregate.