AC Port-of-Spain (AC PoS) gave a much-improved performance but was held to a 1-1 tie by Antigua and Barbuda’s Jennings Grenades in Tuesday’s (September 17) Concacaf Caribbean Cup match at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain.
The result means the Capital City Boyz who needed to win after their 1-1 tie with Ounaminthe FC of Haiti and 3-2 loss to Mocha FC in the previous two matches, would be at risk of not advancing.
Coach Walt Noriega called on his charges to dig themselves out of the hole they had put themselves in, and the players responded appropriately with early possessions but were stopped in the Grenades’ defensive third.
However, it was the visitors who came close to the opener, as roaming striker Daryl Masicot pulled off to receive a through-ball on the left side of the AC PoS goal area, but his curling attempt to the far post was held firm by Denzil Smith in the sixth minute.
Sedale Mc Lean was guilty of several missed chances in the opening half. First on a left-side centre from overlapping defender Jameel Neptune in the 10th minute, Mc Lean’s initial attempt struck low on the left upright with the goalie Zaieem Scott totally beaten. And when Mc Lean got the ball a second time, his powerful low shot was pushed wide by the Grenades custodian.
Four minutes later, Mc Lean found himself at the end of a Duane Muckette through ball, but again his rushed shot was scrambled wide.
Mc Lean though did play a part in his team’s opening goal in the 21st minute, racing on to a Muckette threaded pass but he could not reach the ball before Scott. However, Shackiel Henry fired in the rebound for a 1-0 advantage.
Mc Lean again squandered another one-on-one with the goalie in the 31st minute.
With the score unchanged when the teams returned from the break, Grenades got a golden opportunity to equalise in the 51st minute. Sherman Augustin was sandwiched between two defenders, forcing referee Tristley Bassue from St Kitts and Nevis to point to the penalty spot.
However, substitute goalie Marvin Phillip pulled an acrobatic save to push wide Quinton Griffith’s effort and preserve the 1-0 scoreline.
Griffith then handed AC Port-of-Spain an opportunity to go two goals up by stamping on the feet of Liam Burns in his penalty area in the 58th minute. But Muckette could not beat the outstretched arms of Scott, who pushed his shot wide.
The introduction of Marcus Joseph and Nathan Lewis for the Capital City Boyz increased their firepower in attack but Scott stood between them and the goalpost.
The game seemed to be heading for a 1-0 win for the home team until Sean Tomlinson charged inside the box to head home a right-side cross in the 90+5 minutes for a share of the points.
AC Port-of-Spain has now gotten their second points in three matches.
Results
AC PoS 1 (Shackiel Henry 21st) vs Grenades 1 (Sean Tominson 90+5)