Veteran striker, Andre Toussaint scored the decisive item as DirecTV W Connection battled past Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh 2-1 for a share of the lead at the top of the ten-team Digicel T&T Pro League table on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.
With the win, W Connection climbed to 32 points from 16 matches, the same as Defence Force which stayed top only on goal-difference ahead of its match with Japs North East Stars today (Sunday) at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar from 3.30pm while Central FC is third with 31.
In-form Jomal Williams fired the "Savonetta Boys" ahead in the 16th minute for his 11th league goal this season from the edge the area to find goalkeeper Shemel Louison's bottom corner.But eight minutes later Jabloteh's diminutive midfielder, Jamaican Fabian Reid, equalised with a chipped over goalkeeper Julani Archibald as both teams went into the break at 1-1.
The second-half got off to a frentic start as substitute Neil Benjamin Jr was denied by the legs of Louison while at the other end of the field Jabloteh then had a chance to take the lead in the 54th minute through out-of-favour national striker Jamal Gay, but his effort was charged down by defender Kevon Goddard after winger Nathan Lewis had produced a brilliant run from the half, evaded Triston Hodge and Gerard Williams along the way and squared to an unmarked Gay.
At the other end of the field, Shahdon Winchester almost restored W Connection's lead, but his header on target was turned behind for a corner by Louison.
However, a few minutes later Toussaint then made his opponents pay for its missed effort when he slotted home from close range off a deflected Shannon Gomez cross to seal a seventh straight win for coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier's squad.
Despite being second on the table on goal-difference, W Connection, though, lead the Akeem Adams Round Two with 19 points from six wins and one draw, while Central FC and Defence Force are second and third with 14 and 12 points, respectively. In the earlier game, captain Todd Ryan scored a pair of late goals as Police FC snapped a three-game losing streak with a comprehensive 5-0 hammering of Club Sando at Couva.
The trio of Kadeem Riley, Kareem Freitas and Makesi Lewis were also on targe for the "Lawmen" to push their tally to 24 points and fourth on the standings, one point ahead of Jabloteh, who slipped a spot into fifth.
The win for Police came under the guidance of assistant coach Andy Roberts in the absence of coach Richard Hood who is on international duty as coach of the T&T senior women's Soca Warriors squad at the Concacaf Olympic Olympic qualifiers in Houston, Texas, USA.Winger Riley put Police in front 1-0 in the 15th minute when his in-swinging corner proved too much for the gloves of goalkeeper Kelvin Henry before entering the Sando net.
Freitas then doubled the advantage in the 26th minute on a quick counter-attack involving Kaaron Foster and Makesi Lewis, with the latter slipping the final pass to strike partner Freitas to make it 2-0 with his 11th league goal of the season.
Lewis, this season's leading league scorer, got to his 14th goal by converting from the spot for a 3-0 lead four minutes before the break, by which time already outperforming a 2-0 win achieved over Sando on Dec. 18 in round one.
Referee Rodphin Harris awarded the penalty, ruling that Lewis was fouled in the area by defender Corneal Thomas. Sando disputed Harris' decision after both players went to ground with knocks to their heads but the protest only resulted in Kemuel Rivers joining Thomas on the caution list.
Rivers' frustration spilled over in the 88th minute as his side struggled to find a way back and Harris awarded the full-back his second yellow card, quickly followed by the red, following a dangerous tackle on Police substitute midfielder Devon Jamerson.
Club Sando goalkeeper Jason Belfon, one of four Grenada national team signings in the current transfer window which closes on February 26 was forced into his debut immediately after the break, while Spice Boys team-mate Rickson Phillip was introduced late up front.
First choice goalkeeper, Kelvin Henry was injured after colliding with Grenada national team captain and another Club Sando debutant, Shannon Phillip, in a desperate attempt to avert danger just before the half.
But Belfon, despite getting glove to two Todd Ryan attempts, failed to prevent the goals while Ryan made it 4-0 with a 23-yard free-kick, beating the glove of Belfon.And to add salt to the wounds, Ryan got to his double for the 5-0 finish in open play with another strike off the fingers of Belfon.
The weekend continued last night when Pt Fortin Civic hosted St Ann's Rangers at the Mahaica Oval while today, Defence Force will attempt to regain the outright lead when it faces Stars at Malabar, and defending champions Central FC tackles Morvant Caledonia United at Couva from 4 pm.
Pro League results:
Police FC 5 (Kadeem Riley 15th, Kareem Freitas 26th, Makesi Lewis 41st pen, Todd Ryan 87th, 90th) vs Club Sando 0
W Connection 2 (Jomal Williams 16th, Andre Toussaint 66th) vs San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Fabian Reid 24th)
Today's matches:
Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar
North East Stars vs Defence Force, 3:30 pm
Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva
Central FC vs Morvant Caledonia United, 4pm