National goalkeeper Christopher Biggette made two saves in the penalty-kicks shootout as Defence Force twice came from behind in a 2-2 draw with fellow Tier I club Tiger Tanks Club Sando before securing a 4-1 win on penalties in their First Citizens Cup quarterfinal in the second match of a quarterfinal double-header on Sunday night.
Having shared the spoils in the two league meetings so far this season, it was anyone’s guess who would come out on top, and Club Sando was first to draw blood at the Phase II La Horquetta Recreation Ground, La Horquetta with Shackiel Henry scoring as early as the seventh minute with Justin Garcia replying for the Army/Coast-Guard combination in the 20th.
Henry put Club Sando back ahead with 13 minutes left on the clock and his second strike on the night looked like handing the southerners the upset win.
However, Shaquille Bertrand came up trump for Defence Force getting his team back on level terms five minutes later after which both teams failed to find the winner, resulting in penalty-kicks where Biggette proved decisive to send his team to the semifinals against Central FC on Friday, May 24, while AC Port-of-Spain comes up against Prison FC in other spots in the final to be played on Friday, May 30.
The First Citizens Cup tournament winners will take home $100,000 and the runners-up $50,000.
In Sunday’s first quarterfinal at La Horquetta, Central FC got a double from Kyle Bartholomew in the 42nd, and 69th, while Levin Caballero (45+2), and Miguel Williams (71st) in a 4-0 defeat of San Fernando Giants.
Elsewhere, Prison FC got the better of Tier II title-chasers MIC Matura ReUnited 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the ‘Battle of the East’ at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, while national midfielder scored twice for AC Port-of-Spain in a 2-1 win over Eagles FC at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella.
Last season, Defence Force completed the double in the T&TPFL when they won the Knockout Cup, after battling past Terminix La Horquetta Rangers in a hotly-contested final 5-3 led by a Brent Sam hat-trick at the Diego Martin Sports Complex, Diego Martin.
Sunday’s results
Central FC 4 (Kyle Bartholomew 42nd, 69th, Levin Caballero 45+2, Miguel Williams 71st) vs San Fernando Giants 0
Defence Force FC 2 (Justin Garcia 20th, Shaquille Bertrand 82nd) vs Club Sando FC 2 (Shackiel Henry 7th, 77th) - Defence Force won 4-1 on penalty-kicks
MIC Matura ReUnited 1 (Omari Lezama 89th) vs Prison FC 1 (Brendon Figuera 78th) - Prison FC won 5-4 on penalty-kicks, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 4 pm
FC Eagles 1 (Exilus Angelo 49th) vs AC PoS 2 (Duance Muckette 2nd, 36th) - Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Malabar, 4 pm
Upcoming matches:
Semifinals:
Friday, May 24:
Defence Force vs Central FC
AC Port-of-Spain vs Prison FC
Final:
Thursday, May 30.