Morvant Caledonia United coach Rajesh Latchoo was delighted with his team's 3-2 penalty-kicks quarterfinal win over two-time First Citizens Cup winners Central FC after a 0-0 draw at the Morvant Recreation Ground, Park Street, Morvant, on Sunday.
The win was the first in three attempts at the venue for Morvant Caledonia this season after a 4-2 loss San Juan Jabloteh in a Digicel T&T Pro league clash was followed by a 1-1 draw with Defence Force.
The hero for the home team on Sunday in front of thousands at the Morvant Recreation Ground was goalkeeper Stephon Seepersad who made an opening save in the shoot-out to deny Central's Jason Marcano.
This was coupled with clinical finishing from the spot by team-mates Kareem Joseph, Lester Joseph and Jameel Neptune past the "Couva Sharks" goalkeeper Javon Sample to set up a semifinal clash with Defence Force.
Speaking after the match, Latchoo said it a tremendous joy to reward the people of Morvant."
"In the game before when we scored at the death to draw 1-1 with Defence Force in the Pro League, we saw the reaction of the people. They were jumping together, the rastas were hugging bald heads and the indo-Trinidadians and afro-Trinidadians were celebrating together. It was clear the people of Morvant finally have something to support.
"Our players understand now what it is to represent a community, not just their family and friends, and today the support here in Morvant was our 12th man.
"This was the dream of our owner Jamaal Shabazz for many years, to truly represent the community in which he and the club belongs. Now the dream is to have a stadium in Morvant where our players can train, have video sessions, and somewhere to fully call home."
In the penalty shoot-out Central FC's Keron Cummings skied his kick overbar and Sean De Silva, who had rocked the Morvant Caledonia cross-bar on the half hour mark, followed suit on the visitors' fifth kick.
Central FC captain Darren Mitchell and Leston Paul scored in the shootout for Central, beating the glove of Seepersad on the second and third kicks, but in the end it was there was no stopping the Morvant after-party which included a performance by local dancehall sensation and Morvant resident, Pternsky (Ronny Boyce), whose hits include None Stop, Bubble and F.A.X.
Mitchell admitted it was a tough contest, but dismissed the notion that his team-mates were intimidated by the huge Morvant crowd, which by far surpassed averages ranging between 2,500 and 3,000 in two previous turnouts.
"We are accustomed to playing against teams with thousands of supporters like we did in the Concacaf Champions League," Mitchell said.
"The crowd is tremendous here [in Morvant] but I think it was just a situation where we lacked concentration on the kicks. During the game it was very tough because they sat deep and tried to play on the break."
"I was really confident," said the 20-year-old rookie Seepersad, who started in goal in absence of 'keeper Marvin Phillip, who like Central first choice goalie Jan-Michael Williams and forward Marcus Joseph are with the T&T national team for tonight's Russia 2018 World Cup qualifier away to Honduras.
Seepersad, whose grandparents are from Morvant, had also done well in tracking Mitchell and Paul's efforts despite conceding.
"I work hard in training and it was my time when called upon in the penalties," Seepersad added. "I also had confidence in my teammates to do their part on the kicks and together we rewarded the people of Morvant for their support. The ambition is to go all the way to the title."
Quarterfinal action continued last night with Police FC against Pt Fortin Civic at Ato Boldon Stadium to decide Ma Pau Stars semifinal opponents.
Ma Pau outshined holders and seven-time champions W Connection 3-0 in another penalty shootout following a goalless draw in their quarterfinal while Defence Force faces Morvant Caledonia United in the other semifinal, both on November 22.
FCB Results
Defence Force 4 (Devorn Jorsling 11th pen, 19th, 50th, 84th) vs St Ann's Rangers 2 (Dylon King 53rd, Marvin Lee 72nd)
W Connection 0 vs Ma Pau Stars 0 - Ma Pau Stars won 3-0 on penalty-kicks
Central FC 0 vs Morvant Caledonia United 0 - Morvant Caledonia won 3-2 on penalty-kicks
Semi Final Round
(November 22)
Police/Pt Fortin Civic winner vs Ma Pau Stars
Morvant Caledonia United vs Defence Force