Defence Force Elite and the Defence Force Tier 2 team advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCB Cup on Wednesday night with victories at their home base-the Defence Force Reserve Ground in Chaguaramas.
The Tier 2 team shocked San Juan Jabloteh 2-0, while the Elite Defence Force team left it late before thrashing arch-rivals AC Port-of-Spain 3-0, much to the delight of the fans, colleagues, and others who made their way to the venue.
Schoolboy sensation Caden Trestrail from Fatima College ended Jabloteh's torture in the 80th minute when he latched on to a right-sided centre, unbelievably unmarked on top of the penalty area and drilled the ball past goalkeeper Ja-i Buckmire for the 2-0 win.
It was a workmanlike performance against a team ranked in the fourth position in the top-flight League in T&T. Expectedly, Jabloteh was quick to settle, but there was not the smooth flowing display that the San Juan men were known for, despite having their striker Derrel 'Zoom Zoom' Garcia back from trial.
Andell Fraser, Garcia, Jadon Mc Shine and Trevis Byron tried to carry the Jabloteh attack, but they found it tough to penetrate a steady Defence Force backline that was marshalled by Jamali Garcia. Instead, the Defence Force moved quickly from defence to attack in the 15th minute for the advantage.
Garcia (Jamali), after receiving the ball from a giveaway by McShine, quickly released to Hashim Arcia, who then picked out the onrushing Josiah Superville on the left side. Superville, on a one-on-one with goalkeeper Buckmire, slotted the ball past him for the lead 1-0.
Later, Fraser tried to level the scores in the 31st minute, but after he went past two defenders, his thumping shot took a deflection that also caught the goalkeeper Dwayne Thomas stranded on one side. He quickly shuffled across the goal to push the ball over.
Leading 1-0 as the teams approached the break, the Army/Coast-Guard Combination team was unlucky not to have scored another in the 43rd minute. Superville used his speed to get down the right flank, and when he centred, Theo Cravador surprisingly found himself all alone in front of goal, but he hit the ball wide of the gaping target.
Garcia, Jabloteh's leading goalscorer, came the closest to scoring for his team when a curling attempt from a freekick crashed off the crossbar before going over.
Trestrail, the former national youth player who was the architect of another chance that should have lifted the Army team to a 2-0 advantage, ensured that his team advanced to the quarterfinals with his goal that sparked wild celebration among the crowd.
The win now puts them in line with Prison Service FC on May 21 at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
They were joined in the quarterfinal round by their Tier 1 team, Defence Force Elite, who thrashed AC Port-of-Spain.
Coach Densill Theobald left out instrumental midfielder Kevin Molino and striker Isaiah Leacock from his starting squad, which proved to have weakened the Defence Force attack. The Capital City Boyz were faster to settle in the game, but despite their attempt to control play, they were largely ineffective in the final third, where the Defence Force guards were lifted.
The Army's best chance came when Reon Moore used his pace to get to the byline before his markers, and his cross was stabbed in by Brent Sam, however, the referee waved offside.
Theobald, after a goalless first half, brought on Leacock and Molino, which proved to be worthwhile. Kaihim Thomas, the diminutive midfielder who teased the AC Port-of-Spain defence all night, gave the Defence Force the lead in the 70th minute.
Thomas was picked out on the far left, and he cut to the inside of his marker before hitting the ball low past Marvin Phillip in the AC Port-of-Spain goal.
Ten minutes later, Leacock, from an almost similar position to Thomas when Molino picked him out, caught Phillip off his goal line and skilfully chipped the ball over him to hand the Defence Force a 2-0 cushion.
The match seemed to be heading to a close when Darius Ollivierra was at the end of a neat build-up, and he slotted past Phillip in the 90+4 minute for the right to face Club Sando in the quarterfinals from 6 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium.
Results
Defence Force Tier II 2 (Josiah Superville 15th, Caden Trestrail 79th) vs San Juan Jabloteh 0
Sidey's 2 vs PVDM 4
San Fernando Giants 0 vs UTT Tier II 0. Giants won 4- 3 on penalties.
Caledonia AIA 1 (Jariel Arthur) vs Prison Service 2
Prison service Ignite 0 vs Matura Reunited 2
AC PoS 0 vs Defence Force 3 (Kaihim Thomas 70th, Isaiah Leacock 80th, Darius Ollivierra 90+4)
Police 2 vs Central FC 2. Police wins 4-3 on penalties.
Club Sando 1 vs Point Fortin Civic 0
