Newly crowned 2012/2013 Digicel T&T Pro League champions Defence Force will be hoping to end its league campaign on a high when it faces cellar-placed T&TEC in the second match of a double-header tonight at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, from 8 pm.
Last Monday, the Ross Russell-coached "Teteron Boys" won their second Pro League title in three seasons and record 21st national league crown overall despite losing 4�0 to last year's champions DirecTV W Connection in the first match of a double-header at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
With the loss, Defence Force remained on 43 points from 19 matches, which provided Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA to extend the title-battle into the final week.
However, needing a win against Central FC to cut Defence Force's lead to one point, the Morvant/Laventille "Stallions" stumbled 2�1 to hand Defence Force the crown.
Commenting on Monday night's losing performance, Defence Force assistant coach and former national youth team midfielder Marvin Gordon said: "Honestly I thought we didn't show up. I don't know what happened. Maybe the thought of winning the league had some sort of negative effect on our players. But W Connection were brilliant and as coaches we must accept the truth when another team played really well. I believe W Connection found a good run of form playing in the Caribbean Football Union qualifiers to the Concacaf Champions League while our players were dead flat."
Prior to Monday's defeat, Defence Force's last match was a 5�4 penalty defeat against North East Stars following a 1�1 draw in the semifinal round of the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield on April 20–exactly 17 days before–while Connection picked up a rich form in the last month with a flow of competitive matches.
W Connection football club was involved in the Caribbean qualifiers to the Concacaf Champions League and successfully qualified ahead of Caledonia and Antigua and Barbuda club Barracuda FC a week ago. Connection's recent form also landed the club the Lucozade Sport Goal Shield title by defeating North East Stars 4�3 on penalties following a goalless draw in the Final last Friday.
The Army assistant coach added, "Our players were brilliant throughout the season and they should be given credit for winning the League, because it was the priority for us this season.
"Our guys have worked, game in, game out, and when I look at our results, I think the last time we suffered defeat in the league before the W Connection match was against North East Stars (1�0) in March, and the only other time was in October against Caledonia 4�2."
"Overall, it was a great achievement especially from the staff and players," continued Gordon. "People see us playing football, but the guys have their regular [soldier] duties as well. So I think the staff and players were brilliant throughout the league."
By clinching the league, Defence Force has now managed to claim a major trophy in the past five seasons, inclusive of the 2009 First Citizens Cup, the 2010-2011 League title, the 2011-2012 season Digicel Pro Bowl and now the 2012-2013 League title under their belts.
Looking ahead to his team's final match against T&TEC he said spectators can expect to see a good enough team to win the game.
"It's always good to win your last game going into a knockout competition. We have to defend our Digicel Pro Bowl title later this month. So we will take the opportunity on Friday (today) to give a few of our players that haven't been playing regularly, the opportunity to run out."
In tonight's second match at Macoya, North East Stars, level with W Connection in third with 35 points and coming off an emphatic 5�0 bashing of T&TEC will go after maximum points against debutants Central FC, which is already certain of fifth.
At Couva, W Connection take on Police FC and will also have third spot on its mind while Caledonia and Rangers meet in the second match two hours later.
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