The top three teams to represent T&T at the CONCACAF Caribbean Shield and the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup in August have finally been decided in the T&T Premier Football League, with still a final round of matches to go.
At Sunday's matches, the top two teams that will determine who goes to the CONCACAF Caribbean Shield (top two teams) and the third-place team that will play in the CONCACAF Caribbean Cup.
Defence Force who defeated Club Sando FC 2-0 at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella, has taken one of the spots, along with AC Port of Spain and Club Sando.
Terminix La Horquetta Rangers, who were also victorious 4-1 over Cunupia FC at the St James Barracks on Thursday, cannot make the cut as they can only reach 40 points with a victory in their final match on Sunday.
On Thursday at the Marabella facility, the Army Coast-Guard combination team moved to the top of the standings with 43 points but will be keeping a close eye on the AC Port of Spain men who could have easily snatched back the top spot in their late encounter with Central FC scheduled last night at the Phase II La Horquetta Recreation Ground in La Horquetta.
Dwight Quintero, the prolific Defence Force marksman got the opening goal in the 35th minute for the 1-0 advantage while Hashim Arcia sealed the win in the 90+2 minutes.
The result means even if they lose against W Connection at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, they will still be among the top three teams.
Rangers, after a disastrous 5-2 loss to Police FC earlier this week, produced a commanding performance yesterday that saw them prevail 4-1 in the opening match of a doubleheader at Long Circular Road in St James.
Nathaniel Garcia made their intentions known as early as the 29th minute, when he latched on to a ball that was headed as far as the top of the Cunupia area, from an earlier Rangers corner, and he hit it hard into the top right corner for the 1-0 advantage.
Junior Assoon, the three-goal scorer in the Rangers' match at the weekend, then gave them a two-goal cushion in the 31st.
However, the Cunupia men pulled a goal back in the 35th minute, after a defensive blunder presented Luke Boucaud with an empty net to put the ball into.
With that item, the teams went to the half-time interval with the score at 2-1, but there was no coming back for the central men thereafter though. Daniel David restored the two-goal advantage in the 46th minute and Tyrik Lee, the St Benedict's College dangerman, then sealed the win 4-1 with his goal in the 90+3-minute.
RESULTS
Defence Force 2 (Dwight Quintero 35th, Hashim Arcia 90+2) vs Club Sando 0
Rangers 4 (Nathaniel Garcia 29th, Junior Assoon 31st, Daniel David 46th, Tyrik Lee 90+3) vs Cunupia FC 1 (Luke Boucaud 35th)
W Connection 2 (Neil Benjamin 13th, Jahmalee Barclay 90+4) vs Jabloteh 2 (Kevon Woodley 45+1, 59th)
STANDINGS
TEAM*P*W*D*L*F*A*GD*PTS
1*Defence Force*17*14*1*2*40*11*29*43
2*AC PoS*16*14*0*2*45*11*34*42
3*Club Sando*17*13*2*2*36*16*20*41
4*Rangers*16*12*1*3*49*19*30*37
5*Central FC*16*8*1*7*28*29*-1*25
6*Police FC*15*7*1*7*27*26*1*22
7*W Connection*17*5*4*8*17*23*-6*19
8*Point Fortin Civic*16*4*3*9*12*20*-8*15
9*Morvant Caledonia*16*3*2*11*17*40*-23*11
10*Prison Service*16*3*2*11*9*39*-30*11
11*San Juan Jaboloteh*17*2*3*12*19*39*-20*9
12*Cunupia FC*17*2*2*13*10*36*-26*8