W Connection, led by a hat-trick from Golden Boot winner Marcus “Lobo” Joseph, clinched the 2018 T&T Pro League crown for an unprecedented sixth league title since the turn of the professional era in 1999. The team claimed the honour behind a single point on the final night, at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva with a cool 4-0 victory over table-proppers North East Stars after Couva rivals Central FC had forced Stuart Charles Fevrier’s men into a must-win situation against last season’s champions.
Three-time former champions Central (36 points) courtesy an Akim Armstrong strike at the same venue two hours earlier, had earlier taken the league lead by two points with a narrow 1-0 win over Police FC, which like Club Sando surrendered its chances for a top-two finish on the night's final programme.
However, the Couva Sharks had to settle for runners-up but will join Connection (37 points) at the 2020 CONCACAF Caribbean Club Championship for their credible effort while Sando and Police (both on 33 points and separated by goal-difference) finished third and fourth respectively.
The Caribbean Club Championship which serves as the qualifier tournament to the CONCACAF Champions League and CONCACAF League will see last season’s champions and runners-up North East Stars and multiple-time former Caribbean champions Connection, respectively, represent T&T at the 2019 edition which kicks off in January.
North East Stars completed its 22nd match without a win from 23 outings in all competitions this season.
Meanwhile, T&T forward Joseph put W Connection ahead from as early as one minute 30 seconds played when he scored from the tightest of angles to beat North East Stars goalkeeper Javon Sample before Neil Benjamin Jr. cushioned the Fevrier’s men 2-0 off a Briel Thomas assist in the 13th minute after Jomal Williams and Kadeem Corbin were both denied by the post.
Allister Bernard unscored with the goal at his mercy around the half-hour mark before teammate Lashawn Roberts’ powerful effort three minutes from the half cannoned off the upright as North East Stars’ miserable night dragged on.
Sample made a number of fine saves on either side of the break including keeping out a powerful Alvin Jones free-kick then a follow-up effort by the T&T international and two efforts from Jomal Williams separated by the half, however his side fell further behind 11 minutes into the second period when Benjamin turned provider for Joseph to make it 3-0.
Joseph completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute to make it 4-0 and moved ahead of Sando’s Tyrone Charles by one league goal with 18 to capture his second league Golden Boot after the 2013/14 season thanks to the Jomal Williams’ generosity in rolling a pass across the area for the Point Fortin forward to hit his 25th goal of the season in all competitions into a gaping net.
Charles finished with 17 league goals and 19 overall in all competitions, one less than Police’s Kareem Freitas who had 15 in the league and 20 in all competitions, followed by Armstrong whose 14th league goal and sixteenth in all competitions arrived against Police to qualify Central for a fourth Caribbean Club Championship in five seasons.
Police brothers Jameel and Kareem Perry both had excellent openings midway through the first half but on both occasions T&T shot-stopper Marvin Phillip was alert to avert danger before Dillon Kirton drilled an effort wide of the Central custodian’s upright as the Couva Sharks looked porous at the back in the opening half.
An ambitious Christon Thomas attempt from 35 yards out sailed just high as the “Lawmen” grew in confidence before Central had their star player and T&T midfielder Duane Muckette limp off injured and was replaced by Xavier Rajpaul four minutes from the half.
Armstrong, however, punished Richard Hood’s side in the 68th minute following a mix-up by a defender and goalkeeper Adrian Foncette by poking the eventual winner into the net, at which time his former employers Sando were trailing a two-nil score against his ex-club Morvant Caledonia United at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
Keron “Ball Pest” Cummings had put the “Eastern Stallions” in front six minutes from the half and Guyana international Sheldon Holder doubled the advantage in the 59th minute before completing his double and the 3-0 win in the 90th minute to dash Sando’s hopes of a top-two finish.
At the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, San Juan Jabloteh signed off with a 5-0 win over Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers with veteran player and multiple-time former league winner, Jason Marcano scoring a hat-trick while Josiah Baird and Tyrese Baily scored a goal each.
Jabloteh (27 points) finished unmoved in seventh, three points below Defence Force and Morvant Caledonia in fifth and sixth respectively, but above, in descending order, Point Fortin Civic (11 points), Rangers (10 points) and North East Stars (6 points).
Friday's Results
Morvant Caledonia United 3 (Keron Cummings 39’, Sheldon Holder 59’, 90’) vs Club Sando 0, at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
San Juan Jabloteh 5 (Jason Marcano 11’, 27’, 50’, Josiah Baird 30’, Tyrese Bailey 59’) vs Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers 0, at Hasely Crawford Stadium;
Central FC 1 (Akim Armstrong 68’) vs Police FC 0, at Ato Boldon Stadium;
W Connection 4 (Marcus Joseph 2’, 56’, 65’, Neil Benjamin Jr. 13’) vs North East Stars 0, at Ato Boldon Stadium.
Final 2018 League Standing
Team*MP*W*D*L*GF*GA*GD*Pts
1. W Connection*18*10*7*1*43*8*35*37
2. Central FC*18*11*3*4*42*25*17*36
3. Club Sando*18*10*3*5*44*26*18*33
4. Police FC*18*10*3*5*37*21*16*33
5. Defence Force*18*9*3*6*38*21*17*30
6. Morvant Caledonia Utd*18*8*6*4*36*22*14*30
7. San Juan Jabloteh*18*8*3*7*29*24* 5*27
8. Point Fortin Civic*18*3*2*13*20*46*-26*11
9. Terminix St. Ann’s Rangers*18*3*1*14*13*67*-54*10
10. North East Stars*18*1*3*14*16*58*-42*6