Coaches Hutson Charles of Defence Force and Dave Quamina of Terminix La Horquetta Rangers believe their respective styles of football can lead them to victory when the teams meet in the final of the T&T Premier Football League (TTPFL) Knockout competition on Saturday night at the Diego Martin Sports Complex at 7 pm.
Both coaches won their respective semifinal encounters on Tuesday night at the same venue. The Army Coast-Guard Combination team prevailed over Heritage Petroleum Point Fortin Civic 3-2, courtesy of goals by Justin Garcia, Reon Moore and Brent Sam while Rangers benefitted from a brace from Tyrone Charles and another from Josiah Edwards in securing their passage to the final, also winning by a 3-2 margin over Police.
Coach Charles’s men, attempting to seal their second title of the season after beating AC Port of Spain for the League title three weeks ago, opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Garcia rose unchallenged to head home from a left-side cross by Justin Sadoo for a 1-0 advantage.
The goal didn’t come as a surprise due to the possession the Defence Force enjoyed in attack but the Southerners, in the 24th minute, squandered a golden opportunity at an equaliser soon after. Overlapping defender Kayyaam Headley was bundled over in the box by Kaihim Thomas and referee Krystal Sobers immediately pointed to the penalty spot.
However, Joseph’s attempt was pushed wide by goalkeeper Christopher Biggette to keep his team’s 1-0 lead.
They would not be denied, however, despite the advantage of possession that the Army enjoyed. Headley was again the target from another left-side Point Fortin build-up, and when the ball reached him, Thomas, in a fit of desperation, bulldozed over him in the 33rd minute, forcing Sobers to point to the penalty spot for yet another time.
This time, Joseph stepped up and fired the ball hard and low into the bottom left corner of Biggette’s goal for a 1-1 scoreline. The teams went to the break locked at one apiece before Moore handed them the lead for a second time in the 47th minute.
Later, they sealed the win with a 63rd-minute Brent Sam goal, although Hughton Hector scored again for the Southerners in the 68th minute.
In the other semifinal match that started at 8 pm, Rangers sealed their place into the final following a double from Tyrone Charles in the 30th and 86th minutes to prevail 3-2 over Police FC.
Edwards drew first blood for the La Horquetta men with a goal coming after only the third minute of play. Police, the only team to have beaten Rangers twice during the season 1-0 and 5-2, was only able to score through Kidane Lewis in the 81st and Jabari Mitchell in the 90+4 minute on the night.
Quamina said they did their homework for the Lawmen on Tuesday night.
He told Guardian Media Sports his team, like any other, had a bad patch during the season which accounted for them not being one of the top two teams this season.
However, for the Army, he said once his team can play the way they know how to play, then they will win the title.
“We had an up and down season, but we are trying to finish on a high. I think the Rangers that people know, can win the game once they show up. We know we are up against the top team and it will be a difficult game,” Quamina said.
Charles on the other hand said his team need only to play their game with discipline and they will win another title.
“We know Rangers have a good team with good players, but I have confidence in my team and confidence in the game we can play,” Charles said.