Tyrone Charles punished his former employers twice in the second half to help Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh to a stunning 3-2 upset of current Digicel Pro League leaders and ten-man Central FC in the second match of a Round Two Match Day Six double header at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, Friday.
Central–defeated 2-1 by Defence Force last Tuesday–turned up with their chanting supporters and pounding drums, and opened the scoring in the 14th minute of a feisty first half as it sought to get back to winning ways.
Veteran Marvin Oliver slotted in a rebound for the 1-0 advantage after goalkeeper Raheem Belgrave had blocked out the veteran's penalty strike following Mudassa Howe's foul on Kaydion Gabriel in the box.
However, on the 20th minute Jabloteh Jamaican midfielder, Fabian Reid, tied the scores 1-1 with a delightful curling strike into goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams' upper corner after collecting a Calib Sturge pass and slipping the ball through the legs of defender Jamal Jack to free himself at the edge of the area.
Tyrone Charles then nicked his first of the night, with a toe poke for a 2-1 Jabloteh lead in the 58th minute, when he capitalised on a mix-up by goalkeeper Williams and "Couva Sharks"' defenders, who failed to handle a long pass forward into the box by Isaiah Mc Intyre.
Central's troubles worsened just four minutes later when referee Harris produced a direct red card to forward Rundell Winchester following a tackle on Jevon Morris.
Harris had initially drawn the yellow card for the foul but switched to a direct red for abusive language by the player as Central ended with ten men for a second consecutive match.
But in the 66th minute the scores were tied 2-2 when Oliver converted from the penalty spot, for his seventh DPL goal this season, beating substitute goalie Aaron Enil, who had replaced Belgrave following the break.
Belgrave, replaced because of slight injury after clashing with Winchester in the first half, looked on from the stands when referee Harris ruled that defender Josiah Trimmingham had fouled Darren Mitchell in the box and when Enil was beaten.
Jabloteh defender, Howe, later made up for giving up an early penalty, by clearing off the line in the 77th minute to deny Central forward Willis Plaza, who struck towards goal from a Sean de Silva pass, as the "Couva Sharks"' supporters continued to pound and chant on.
But seemingly drummed-up by the opposition, Charles fired in the 3-2 winner in the 81st minute to complete his double.
The forward showed excellent strength to hold off defender Marcelle Francois after collecting a Reid pass to hit past goalkeeper Williams.
Despite the hard-fought victory Jabloteh continues to occupy fifth position, but with an improved 19 points, ten less than leaders Central (29 points), while defending champions DirecTV W Connection, Defence Force and North East Stars occupy second, third and fourth respectively, with 23 points each.
W Connection and Defence Force were scheduled to meet yesterday at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, but that match will now be played on Tuesday. Also on Friday, Pt Fortin Civic, led by interim head coach Leroy De Leon following last weekend's exit by Reynold Carrington, whipped visiting cellar positioned St Ann's Rangers 4-1 at the Mahaica Oval. Police FC trounced Caledonia AIA 3-0 in the first match at Macoya.
Rangers had taken a surprise lead in the 56th minute but De Leon's side, coming off a 2-1 win over Connection on Tuesday, fired back with four late goals to complete a second consecutive league win.
Marcus Joseph levelled the scores 1-1 in the 72nd minute and Shackiel Henry made it 2-1 by the 75th minute before a late double by Jamille Boatswain, netting in the 83rd and 91st minutes, completed the late rout.
The result kept Civic in sixth position, tied with seventh positioned Police, on 17 points, while Caledonia occupy eighth position with 14 points, and Rangers at rock bottom with just one point.
Caledonia conceded in as early as the third minute when forward Kareem Freitas completed a cool finish past goalkeeper Shemel Louison from close up following a flicked pass by Kareem Perry for a 1-0 Police lead.
The "Lawmen," led by captain Todd Ryan cleverly marshalling the midfield, doubled the lead, 2-0, in the 29th minute when Clevon Mc Fee turned in a low powerful Micah Lewis cross.
And it wasn't a surprise that Police added a third on the 60th minute for a 3-0 win when midfielder Kenaz Williams blasted from the top of the box to beat Louison into the top corner after he was picked out by a Perry cross.
DIGICEL PRO LEAGUE RESULTS
Police FC 3 (Kareem Freitas 3rd, Clevon Mc Fee 41st, Kenaz Williams 60th) vs Caledonia AIA 0
San Juan Jabloteh 3 (Fabian Reid 20th, Tyrone Charles 58th, 81st) vs Central FC 2 (Marvin Oliver 14th, 66th)
Pt Fortin Civic 4 (Marcus Joseph 72nd, Shackiel Henry 75th, Jamille Boatswain 83rd, 90th) vs St Ann's Rangers 1 (Jelani Peters 56th)
Current T&T Pro League standings
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central 14 9 2 3 36 13 29
W Connection 12 7 2 3 26 8 23
North East Stars 13 7 2 4 14 9 23
Defence Force 12 7 2 3 19 15 23
Jabloteh 13 5 4 4 20 20 19
Pt Fortin 13 5 2 6 25 22 17
Police 14 4 5 5 19 29 17
Caledonia 13 4 2 7 20 26 14
Rangers 14 0 1 13 10 47 1
Upcoming matches
Round Two Match Day Seven
Friday 20 February 2015
Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya
Police FC vs W Connection, 6 pm
North East Stars vs Central FC, 8 pm
Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
San Juan Jabloteh vs Caledonia AIA, 7 pm
Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
Point Fortin Civic vs Defence Force, 4 pm
Tuesday 24 February 2015
Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya:
St Ann's Rangers vs North East Stars, 6 pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs Defence Force, 8 pm
Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin
Point Fortin Civic vs Central FC, 4 pm
Ato Boldon Stadium
Caledonia AIA vs W Connection, 6 pm?