Having relinquished hold of its Digicel T&T Pro League title to Couva-neighbours Central FC on Tuesday, DirecTV W Connection will look to finish its league campaign on a high when it faces Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh in the second match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 8pm.
On Tuesday last, Central FC came from behind to beat Japs North East Stars 2-1 to end its 24-match schedule with an unassailable 55 points, six clear of W Connection which also won 2-1 over Police FC in the evening's opening match, ahead of its final match tonight.
The win by the Terry Fenwick-coached Central FC which started the season under the stewardship of Yugoslavian-born former T&T coach Zoran Vranes earned the club the $1 million prize to add to First Citizens Cup, and Rawle Fletcher (Round One), Akeem Adams (Round Two) and Kevon Carter (Third Round) trophies which carry a pay package of $35,0000.
Vranes was in fact in charge of the team for all but the last two titles claimed, the Kevon Carter Third Round and all important maiden league crown, after being replaced with three matches left and on the eve of the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship group stages, from which it has qualified to face three-time winner, W Connection in the semifinals on May 22.
But before W Connection can focus on the CFU semifinal, it must first complete its domestic schedule, with second spot and $300,000 already certain.Two hours earlier, Defence Force, guaranteed third spot and $150,000 with 39 points, six ahead of Pt Fortin Civic and North East Stars face off with cellar-placed St Ann's Rangers.
The match will be of great importance to Defence Force striker, Devorn Jorsling, the all-time Pro League top scorer with 135 goals, four more than Jabloteh's Kerry Baptiste as he looks to surpass his own personal top tally of 21.And having scored four hat-tricks already this season, Jorsling the Pro League's "Golden Boot" winner in 2008, 2010-2011 & 2012-2013, just needs one goal to equal that tally, and two to set a new personal high.
Tomorrow, at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, North East Stars and Caledonia AIA clash from 4pm while the league will conclude on Tuesday May 5, at Couva, with Pt Fortin entertaining Police FC from 8pm.This will be followed by the start of the Digicel Pro Bowl knockout competition with W Connection putting its title on the line.
The tournament will kick off with a qualifier featuring Caledonia AIA and St Ann's Rangers on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva from 6pm.
Results
Current T&T Pro League standings:
Teams P W D L F A Pts
Central FC 24 17 4 3 63 44 55
W Connection 23 15 4 4 45 17 49
Defence Force 23 11 3 8 45 29 39
Pt Fortin Civic 23 10 3 10 45 40 33
N/East Stars 23 9 6 8 24 24 33
Jabloteh 23 7 7 8 30 38 28
Police FC 23 7 6 10 32 46 27
Caledonia 23 7 5 11 30 42 26
Rangers 23 0 2 21 19 77 2
Remaining Pro League matches:
Today (Friday May 1):
Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo:
Defence Force vs St. Ann's Rangers, 6 pm
San Juan Jabloteh vs W Connection, 8 pm
Tomorrow (Saturday May 2):
Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar:
North East Stars vs Caledonia AIA, 4 pm
Tuesday May 5:
Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva:
Pt Fortin FC vs Police FC, 8pm
Top scorers:
20 - Devorn Jorsling (Defence Force)
15 - Ataulla Guerra (Central FC), Marcus Joseph (Pt Fortin Civic)
12 - Purnell Schultz (Caledonia AIA), Jerrel Britto (W Connection)
10 - Willis Plaza (Central FC)
9 - Marvin Oliver (Central FC), Kerry Baptiste (Jabloteh), Hashim Arcia (W Connection)
8 - Jamille Boatswain (Pt Fortin Civic)
7- Richard Roy (Defence Force)
6 - Keron Cummings (North East Stars), Todd Ryan (Police FC), Makesi Lewis (Police FC)