Three-time winners DirecTV W Connection and Couva-rivals Central FC both needed kicks from the penalty-spot to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Toyota Classic at the Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin on Friday night.
W Connection, Toyota Classic champions in 2005, 2011 and 2013, and coming off its triumph in the First Citizens Cup a week earlier, got the better of Club Sando 5-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw in the their round-of-16 encounter.
Then in the second match, Central FC, which finished the heated encounter with ten men, dumped host Pt Fortin Civic 3-2 on penalties following a similar 0-0 draw.
In the quarterfinals, W Connection will meet Toyota Classic 2012 champion North East Stars, which hammered Super League side Siparia Spurs 8-0 in their last-16 match on Wednesday while Central FC, the defeated First Citizens Cup finalist, tackles Morvant Caledonia United, 5-3 winner over Super League's 1976 FC Phoenix.
For W Connection, Shahdon Winchester, Jomal Williams, Dwight Quintero, Kurt Frederick and Gerard Williams were all clinical from the spot to beat goalkeeper Alexei Julien while Club Sando's Akeem Humphrey hammered his side's third kick onto the crossbar. Kevon Woodley, Kemuel Rivers and Kern Cupid, who were part of six former W Connection players fielded by Sando, converted their attempts. Coming up against the same side it defeated 3-0 in the Pro League on September 26, Central FC was expected to stroll into the last eight.
However, Central FC without the services of veteran midfielder Marvin OIiver found the going tough and was reduced to ten men in the 67th minute when referee Cecile Hinds ejected Elijah Manners for a lunging tackle on Civic's Glenn Sutton.Twice in regulation time Central FC had the ball in the back of the Pt Fortin Civic net, but on each occasion, it was rightfully ruled out for offside.
At the other end of the field, Civic's best efforts, came via attempts from Troy Moses and Akeem Redhead which were blanked by opposing goalkeeper Williams, and a stoppage-time Andrei Pacheco free-kick which clipped the top of the upright, before eventually falling on penalties.
Civic, leading 2-1 on kicks, had a gift of an opportunity to apply further pressure on Central after goalkeeper Miles Goodman blanked T&T international Willis Plaza who seemed to be put off due to a three-minute wait for the top of the netting to be repaired after a thunderous effort from Civic's Andrei Pacheco had beaten goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams.
However Akeem Redhead blasted his attempt into the night sky before Williams denied substitute Jared Bennett and Bevon Bass struck the base of the upright.Moses scored Civic's first attempt while goalkeeper Goodman produced another save to deny Central's Leston Paul but the Couva Sharks, got conversions from Ataulla Guerra, Andre Ettienne and Darren Mitchell to advance.
Up at the Larry Gomes Stadium, yesterday, Defence Force got a goal apiece from Richard Roy (26th pen), Ross Russell Jr (29th) and Kerry Joseph (64th) to oust St Ann's Rangers 3-1. Rangers got a 44th minute free-kick conversion from Sayid Freitas.
Today, the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground will come alive when home side Guaya United welcomes Police FC from 3 pm, and simultaneously at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Super League side Marabella Family Crisis Centre will take on defending Toyota Classic champions San Juan Jabloteh.
RESULTS
Round-of-16
Yesterday
�2 Defence Force (Pro League) 3 (Richard Roy 26th pen, Ross Russell jr 29th, Kerry Joseph 64th) vs St Ann's Rangers 1 (Sayid Freitas 44th).
Fixtures
Today's round-of-16 matches
�2 Guaya United vs Police FC, Guayaguayare Rec Grd, 3 pm.
�2 Marabella Family Crisis Centre vs San Juan Jabloteh, Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, 3 pm.