T&T international Ataulla Guerra netted a second-half double as Central FC spanked Pt Fortin Civic Centre 3-1 to stay top of the Digicel T&T Pro League table at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva on Sunday night.
The win saw Central FC end the inaugural Round One Rawle Fletcher Trophy competition with 17 points from its eight matches, one ahead of defending league champions DirecTV W Connection which trounced Caledonia AIA 3-0 in the first match at the same venue to remain favourites for the $35,000 prize at the end of the round.
Central was the better of both teams in the first-half, however Pt Fortin goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, made a double save in the third minute, first denying Qian Grosvenor then the rebound by Guerra to keep the score goalless while January signing Willis Plaza also came close.
At the other end of the field, Pt Fortin midfielder Andrei Pacheco missed a chance for his team to take a 1-0 lead into the break when he missed a 40th minute penalty as both teams went in 0-0.
However, two minutes after the restart Plaza marked his long awaited return for Central FC in style when he set himself perfectly above the six-yard area, and left footed volleyed substitute Jason Marcano's looped cross into the back of goalkeeper Marvin Phillip's net for a 1-0 Central lead.
Less than ten minutes after Plaza's goal, Rundell Winchester, who also rejoined the club in the January transfer window sent in a powerful left-footed strike but his effort struck the top of the crossbar to the relief of Phillip as the "Sharks" look to put the match to rest.
Phillip continued to keep his team in the match as she again produced excellent saves in the 78th and 81st minutes to deny Guerra again, with the latter created by a perfect Plaza cross behind the defence.
But on the 86th minute Guerra finally found the back of an open net for a 2-0 Central cushion after he was fed a pass by substitute Kaydion Gabriel following a defence-splitting pass by captain Sean de Silva.
And five minutes later, Guerra made it 3-0 with his second of the match, with a gem of a 24-yard free-kick over the wall and into the back of Phillip's net following a foul by Civic captain Andre Ettienne on Jason Marcano.
Ettienne was shown his second yellow card of the match for the incident and sent off, however Civic, finally found the back of the net in the final of three minutes stoppage time when defender Weslie John headed past goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams from a corner.
In the night's first match, W Connection, despite missing 11 regulars coasted to an easy victory over the Morvant/Laventille "Stallions".
National defender Alvin Jones tested Caledonia goalkeeper Shemel Louison with a blast from a free-kick in the 22nd minute, which he kep out, but seven minutes later Neil Benjamin Jr blasted got the opener from an Hashim Arcia feed and in the 39th Shirlo Johnson got his first senior team goal when he swooped in on a spill by Louison for a 2-0 half-time lead.
Seven minutes into the second-half Arcia got on the score sheet for a 3-0 Connection lead after Benjamin returned a scoring opportunity to the lanky forward.
W Connection had further scoring opportunities but Louison,made three excellent saves to deny Arcia in the 75th minute; a chipped Jomol Williams attempt in the 77th minute; and a low Tremain Shayn Paul effort in the 89th minute to keep the scoreline respectable.
On Saturday at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, both North East Stars and Defence Force won over St Ann's Rangers and San Juan Jabloteh, 1-0 and 2-1 respectively.
Today, W Connection will have a chance to end round one ahead of Central FC and $35,000 richer when it entertains Jabloteh in the second match of a double-header at Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya from 8pm while two hours earlier Caledonia and Stars meet.
Down at Couva, Defence Force plays Rangers in the opener and Police comes up against Pt Fortin Civic.
results
Digicel Pro League 2014-2015
Round One Match Day Eight results
Sunday:
Central FC 3 (Willis Plaza 47', Ataulla Guerra 86', 90'+1) vs Point Fortin Civic 1 (Weslie John 90'+3)
W Connection 3 (Neil Benjamin Jr. 29', Shirlo Johnson 39', Hashim Arcia 52') vs Caledonia AIA 0
Saturday:
North East Stars 1 (Keron Cummings 7') vs St. Ann's Rangers 0
Defence Force 2 (Josimar Belgrave 16', Sean Narcis 84') vs San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Brent Sam 65')
fixtures
Tuesday 13 January 2015
Marvin Lee Stadium
North East Stars vs Caledonia AIA, 6 pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs W Connection, 8 pm
Ato Boldon Stadium
Defence Force vs St. Ann's Rangers, 6 pm
Police FC vs Pt Fortin Civic, 8 pm
standings?
Current Digicel T&T Pro League standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central FC 8 5 2 1 23 8 17
W Connection 7 5 1 1 19 4 16
N/East Stars 7 3 2 2 6 4 11
Caledonia 7 3 2 2 12 11 11
D/Force 7 3 1 3 11 11 10
Police 7 2 3 2 10 15 9
Jabloteh 7 2 2 3 6 12 8
Pt Fortin 7 1 2 4 10 15 5
Rangers 7 0 1 6 4 21 1?