Devorn Jorsling handed Defence Force FC a winning restart and three more points to the 2018 Pro League campaign following the international break when he scored from a free kick to edge Club Sando 1-0 in the second game of a doubleheader at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo on Friday evening.
The narrow victory pulled the Marvin Gordon coached-Defence Force (13 points) within a point of second-placed San Juan Jabloteh (14 points), which was earlier held to a late 1-1 draw against Morvant Caledonia United, allowing leaders W Connection (16 points) a chance to widen the gap at the top when it travels to Mahaica Oval for a date yesterday against Point Fortin Civic.
Jomoul Francois scored his fourth league goal and fifth in all competitions to put Jabloteh ahead 1-0 after just five minutes before a power outage interrupted play at the Mucurapo venue.
Jabloteh had done enough to starve a star-studded Morvant Caledonia side equipped with a marquee signing Keron Cummings until the 81st minute after referee Rashby Mc Phie awarded a penalty when substitute Saydrel Lewis went to ground in the box during a challenge with Jevon Morris.
Sheldon Holder was denied by Christopher Biggette, who was brilliant between the uprights throughout the night, from the spot, but the Guyana international forward converted on the second bite from the rebound to level Morvant Caledonia 1-1 with his second league goal of the season.
Morvant Caledonia, with six points and a game in hand, hurdled Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers for the seventh spot by goal difference and is now three games undefeated.
Jorsling later lifted Defence Force in front after 18 minutes with the eventual winner from a trademark left-footed free-kick that beat the gloves of goalkeeper Kelvin Henry in goal for the Sando team to find the roof of the net.
The 34-year-old Jorsling, the Pro League’s all-time top scorer, once again proving why his skill and experience remains a huge asset to the Tetron Boys.
Gordon handed starting roles to Jelani Felix, Shaquille Bertrand Justin Garcia, Aaron Lester and Kendell Hitlal, but it was veteran talisman Jorsling’s fourth league goal and sixth in all competitions so far this season that separated Defence Force from Sando in a highly charged contest.
Jorsling, who was later replaced by Jamille Boatswain with twelve minutes left, headed another chance overbar off a cross from defender Rodell Elcock just before the half-hour mark.
Dylon King, ten years Jorsling’s junior, also directed an Elcock cross away from the target three minutes from the break, and six minutes into the second half Hashim Arcia saw his shot from distance cannon off Henry’s upright.
Henry denied King on the hour mark, tipping the midfielder’s free-kick overbar, but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat for Sando, which featured recent signings Jabari Mitchell in the starting line-up and Jabarry Francis off the bench.
RESULTS
Morvant Caledonia United 1 (Sheldon Holder 81’) vs San Juan Jabloteh 1 (Jomoul Francois 5’), at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Defence Force FC 1 (Devorn Jorsling 16’) vs Club Sando 0, at Hasely Crawford Stadium.
On Tuesday
Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers vs Club Sando, 6pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Police FC vs Morvant Caledonia United, 8pm at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
W Connection vs San Juan Jabloteh, 6pm at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Defence Force FC vs Central FC, 8pm at Ato Boldon Stadium;
Point Fortin Civic vs North East Stars, 7pm at Mahaica Oval.