Defence Force and Police will renew their rivalry in the quarterfinal round of the Toyota Classic competition on Saturday at the St James Barracks Ground, (in side field) from 6.15 pm.This after both teams, which have never lifted the title in the competitions's eight-year history won their round-of-16 matches in contrasting fashion on the weekend.
The "Teteron Boys" who reached the 2012 final against North East Stars and was beaten on penalty-kicks after a 2-2 full-time draw drubbed National Super League club, Petrotrin Palo Seco inspired by a hat-trick from out-of-favour national striker Devorn Jorsling.
The burly Jorsling, the T&T Pro League's second all-time highest scorer with 115 goals, seven behind San Juan Jabloteh's Kerry Baptiste and more than twice as much as any active player in the competition found the back of the net in the 30th, 45th, and 69th minutes while Kerry Joseph (53rd), Jemel Sebro (77th) and Darryl Trim (81st) got the others. Last year, Defence Force stormed its way through to the semifinal including a 5-1 spanking of fellow Digicel T&T Pro League club, Central FC before being upstaged in the semifinals by, losing finalist Club Sando, 2-3. Police, on the other hand, which has enjoyed a decent league start to sit joint second on the table with Central FC was dumped at the round-of-16 stage last time out, but made a brighter start this time around with a 2-1 win over Super League's Guaya United, another shock semifinalist last year. Both Police and Defence Force have met once so far this season, with the latter coming away with a 4-2 Pro League win back on October 3, while both teams are coming off tough Pro League matches on Tuesday.
The "Teteron Boys" surrendered a 1-0 lead in a 2-1 loss to Central FC while Police battled to a 0-0 draw with North East Stars.
The winner of the Police/Defence Force encounter will earn a semifinal spot against the winner of the meeting between 2008 winner San Juan Jabloteh against the victors of the Club Sando/North East Stars round-of-16 match which has been rescheduled to Friday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 8pm.
In today's other quarterfinal, first round of giant-killers WASA FC led by T&T all-time top goalscorer Stern John comes up against Caledonia AIA at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, also from 3 pm. WASA created the biggest upset of the competition thus far by booting three-time tournament winner and defending champion DirecTV W Connection 4-3 on penalty kicks with John scoring the decisive kick, after a 1-1 draw while Caledonia blanked Defence Force (Super League) 3-0 in their encounter and will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last year's quarterfinal loss to Club Sando, on penalties, after a 2-2 draw.
However, the Morvant/Laventille "Stallions" will no doubt need to improve their showing from the 1-1 league draw with cellar-placed St Ann's Rangers on Tuesday if they hope to overcome a well rested WASA. The winner of the Police and Defence Force encounter will earn a semifinal date with the winner of the Jabloteh and last night's round-of-16 meeting between Club Sando and North East Starsm.
And the Caledonia AIA/WASA victors await the outcome of last night's other remaining last-16 clash between Central FC/La Horquetta winners against Pt Fortin Civic which blanked Rangers 3-0 in its last-16 match.
The tournament winners will receive $50,000 while the runner-up gets $20,000. The top "Goalscorer" and "Coach of the Tournament" will receive $1,000 each while $1,500 will be awarded to the "Most Valuable Player" overall.
Toyota Classic 2014 Fixtures
Quarterfinals:
Today (November 29):
Police vs Defence Force, St James Barracks,6.15pm
Caledonia vs WASA FC, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar,3pm
Monday December 1:
Jabloteh vs North East Stars/Club Sando winner
Pt Fortin Civic vs Central FC/La Horquetta SA winner
Semifinals: Friday December 5
Final: Friday December 12