Title-holder Defence Force and six-time champion, W Connection booked their places in the semifinal round of the First Citizens Cup with contrasting wins in their respective quarterfinal matches at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Friday night. In the opener, goalkeeper Kevin "Barthez" Graham was the star as he pulled off four saves to lead a lacklustre Defence Force past nine-man St Ann's Rangers' 2-1 on penalty-kicks after a 0-0 draw in regulation time. The "Teteron Boys" enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the match and even had a penalty-kick missed during regulation-time from striker Devon Jorsling while fellow striker Kevon Carter suffered a broken right leg. Winner of the title last year via a 1-0 decision over bmobile Joe Public, Defence Force coach Ross Russell and his team suffered an early blow in the contest when speedy winger Carter suffered a broken leg from an Elijah Belgrave tackle on the half-hour mark.
Belgrave was red carded by referee Neil Brizan for the infringement to reduce his team to ten men and 12 minutes later, the "Teteron Boys" had a chance to go ahead in the contest from the penalty-spot after Brizan whistled Devon Modeste for a handled ball in the area from a right-sided Albert Thornhill cross. However, the usually reliable Jorsling, tried a clever chip over Rangers' goalkeeper, Daurance Williams from the spot and only succeeded in guiding the ball over the bar. On the stroke of half-time, Brizan was in the thick of things once more as he handed Rangers' midfielder Adrian Narine, a second yellow card for decent, to reduce the St Ann's-based club to nine players. Despite the advantage in player personnel in the second half, Defence Force, which defeated Rangers 4-2 in the Digicel Pro League first round failed to overcome some resolute defending by Rangers which carried the match into the dreaded penalty-kicks. In the shoot-out, both Rangers' Josimar Belgrave and Aaron Stewart and the Defence Force duo of Jorsling and Akil Pierre had their attempts saved by Kevin Graham and Williams, respectively.
Next up for Rangers' was Hans Pierre and his attempt was tipped onto the bar by Graham before national defender Aklie Edwards scored to put Defence Force ahead 1-0. Clevon Mc Phie of Rangers and Defence Force captain, Corey Rivers were next to see their attempts saved by the two goalkeepers before national Under-20 Akil Clarke scored to draw Rangers level with their fifth and final effort but his joy was short-lived as Thornhill then converted to seal a 2-1 win for his team and a semifinal meeting with the winner of the Ma Pau/San Juan Jabloteh quarterfinal. Speaking after the match, Defence Force coach Russell while happy to see his team get to the semifinal stage lamented on the loss of Carter. "I really think its a bad blow both for us and the national team at the same time. He has broken his leg in two places and that will mean a very long time on the sidelines," said Russell. For us it will be a big dent in our preparations as we seek to win the league title. Kevon has exceptional speed which was a weapon for us as well as national coach Russell Latapy.
"I'm also feeling it for him because he was now getting a decent run in the national team and from all reports was doing very well under coach Latapy. "Now we just have to hope that when he returns to action he will be able to pick up from where he left off," ended Russell. In the night's second match, W Connection, tournament winner in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008, blanked Caledonia AIA 2-0 with a second half goal each from Colombian Christian Viveros (48th) and Soca Warriors midfielder, Hughton Hector (85th) to set up a semifinal meeting with bmobile Joe Public. The win by the Savonetta Boys was the second on the trot against Caledonia in a knockout quarterfinal this season after losing their league encounter, 1-0. W Connection also edged Caledonia 1-0 in the Lucozade Sports Goal Shield quarterfinal, thanks to a Hector free-kick. Yesterday, Joe Public blanked DirecTV North East Stars 2-0 with Antiguan, Gayson Gregory (36th) and Soca Warriors midfielder, Kerry Baptiste (45th pen) on target in the first match of a double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo.
In the second match, Ma Pau tackled San Juan Jabloteh.