T&T rivals Defence Force and AC Port of Spain (AC PoS) both accomplished their respective missions when they battled to a tense 1-1 draw in last night's Group A clash of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Thursday.
The City-based club had entered the match without a win were determined to finish the region’s Club championship by avoiding a donut and securing at least one point, while their opponents were sniffing a place the second round, coming in with four points and knowing that a win would all but secure that position.
While neither team managed the ultimate result of a win, as the one point achieved by the teams saw them both were able to advance their respective objectives. AC PoS achieved finishing with a point, while Defence Force's point enhanced their position in the standings and chances of advancing in the tournament.
The decisive goal came just when AC PoS seemed poised to secure their first win, as with the regulation 90 minutes expired and already into the third minute of added time, Brent Sam assured the Defence Force a share of the points with a heart breaking equaliser.
The army coast guard team will now have their fate in their own boots when they face Moca FC of Jamaica in a must-win clash to determine who advances from the group as one of the top two teams in a game will be played on October 4, with the T&T team having home advantage.
In last night’s match, AC Port of Spain's start was a carbon copy of the starts they had in their last three matches, with total domination but with nothing to show in the end of the opening 45 minutes.
Things finally broke for them and they seemed heading for a win after a 76th-minute strike from Michel Poon-Angeron broke the goal scoring draught that haunted them in their first three matches when after a lengthy period of ball control and domination, Angeron broke clear after getting the better of Army's Justin Sadoo, and kept his cool to calmly slot past an advancing Christopher Biggette in the soldiers’ goal.
Captain and midfielder Duane Muckette, who told the media the day before that his team had their pride to play for, was the leader in the early moments, but he twice let the Defence Force men off the hook, first with a shot that went wide and then from a header at the back post which flashed past the post from a John Paul Rochford corner.
Then on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, Army defender Justin Garcia's was lucky to only receive a caution when his outstretched left leg caught Michel Poon Angeron on his way to a goal and the referee only awarded a free-kick on top of the box. Any potential for goal was wasted as Charles' thumping shot twice crashed against the wall of Army defenders before bouncing to safety.
The Army had twice gotten the better of their opponents in the local T&T Premier Football League not too long ago, but yesterday they struggled to put together many convincing attacks against them.
In fact it was AC PoS who enjoyed much of the game and chances with new signing Tyrone Charles, coming close in the 29th minute when took on the Army defence with a dangerous run down the left flank before squaring back for the oncoming Muckette, who though being unmarked and having time for an extra touch, rushed a one-time shot which sailed well over the crossbar.
In the 44th, AC PoS also threatened, but this time John Paul Rochford's curling attempt from a free kick, whisked past Biggette's upright.
Army looked slightly better in the second session and nearly punished their opponent’s wastefulness in the 59th minute, when Sadoo came close, connecting sweetly with a Brent Sam cross, only to see Jadel Poon-Lewis in the AC PoS goal, acrobatically pushing it wide.
Thursday's Result:
AC Port-of-Spain 1 (Michel Poon-Angeron 76th) vs Defence Force 1 (Brent Sam 90+3)
GROUP A standings
Pos*Team*P*W*D*L*Gf*Ga*+/-*Pts
1*Cavalier FC*3*2*1*0*6*2*4*7
2*Moca FC*3*2*0*1*4*3*1*6
3*Defence Force*3*1*2*0*3*2*1*5
4*Golden Lion*3*1*0*2*3*6*-3*3
5*AC PoS*4*0*1*3*4*7*-3*1
