Connection, Caledonia finish bottom of Champions League groups

Editor Thursday 26 September 2013 Global Football, Local Football, Volley Leave a comment

Trinidad and Tobago Pro League football clubs DIRECTV W Connection and Caledonia AIA both finished bottom of their respective CONCACAF Champions League groups last night as their continental assignments ended with 2-0 losses away to the United States and Guatemala respectively.

Connection lost 2-0 to United States Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit Houston Dynamo while Caledonia fell by a similar score to Guatemalan top flight team, CSD Comunicaciones.

Comunicaciones scored with two first half headers from Jairo Arreola and Joel Benitez while a combination of the upright and some brilliant saves by Caledonia and Grenada international goalkeeper Shemel Louison kept the scoreline fairly respectable. While a stunning strike by Jason Johnson and a near post header from Bobby Boswell off a left side corner kick gave Houston a comfortable victory.

The results meant both teams exited the 2013/14 CONCACAF competition without a single win.

Photo: Caledonia AIA head coach Jamaal Shabazz (left) helps defender Kareem Joseph to his feet while assistant coach Rajeesh Latchoo looks on. (Courtesy Francisco Estrada/Jam MEDIA) — Photo: Caledonia AIA head coach Jamaal Shabazz (left) helps defender Kareem Joseph to his feet while assistant coach Rajeesh Latchoo looks on.
(Courtesy Francisco Estrada/Jam MEDIA)

Connection managed one goalless draw against Dynamo in Port of Spain but lost its remaining three fixtures and scored just once with seven goals conceded. Caledonia lost all four matches and let in 13 goals despite scoring twice.

Both Trinidad teams were not at full strength—possibly with the upcoming First Citizens Cup quarterfinal fixtures in mind.

Connection coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier omitted Trinidad and Tobago internationals Joevin Jones, who is also the team captain, and Daneil Cyrus while Surinamese winger Stefano Rijssel was introduced as a late substitute. Colombian attacker Yefer Lozano also made his first appearance for the “Savonetta Boys” since being kicked out of the Digicel Charity Shield match against Defence Force.

And Caledonia restricted team captain and holding midfielder Stephan David to 45 minutes while midfielders Keron Bethelmy and Argentine Miguel Romeo received rare starts.

Caledonia, the defending First Citizens Cup champion team, will play last year’s beaten finalist, Defence Force, from 8 pm on Monday at the Marvin Lee Stadium in Macoya. And Connection travels to Mahaica Oval on Saturday to tackle Point Fortin Civic FC in what is expected to be an emotional meeting of neighbours.

(Teams)

W Connection: 21.Alejandro Figueroa (GK); 24.Joao Ananias, 25.Christian Ocoro Viveros (26.Stefano Rijssell 77), 15.Mekeil Williams, 2.Kurt Frederick; 3.Gerard Williams; 6.Celio Da Silva (27.Yefer Lozano 61), 7.Silvio Spann (captain) (17.Jamal Clarence 45); 65.Neil Benjamin, 40.Jomal Williams, 14.Hashim Arcia.

Unused substitutes: 18.Julani Archibald (GK), 11.Tremain Paul, 13.Devaughn Elliot, 28.Yhon Reyes.

Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier

Caledonia AIA: 1.Shemel Luison (GK); 12.Kareem Joseph, 3.Nuru Muhammad (captain), 2.Aubrey David, 6.Marcus Ambrose; 25.Keron Bethelmy (27.Nathan Lewis 72), 22.Miguel Romeo (7.Stephan David 45), 21.Densill Theobald, 11.Abdallah Phillips; 9.Keyon Edwards, 23.Jamal Gay (18.Kithson Bain 63).

Unused substitutes: 33.Glenroy Samuels (GK), 16.Tyrone Charles, 20.Noel Williams, Kevaughn Connell.

Coach: Jamaal Shabazz

CONCACAF Champions League

(Wed September 25)

Houston Dynamo 2 (Jason Johnson 38, Bobby Boswell 51), W Connection 0 in Houston

CSD Comunicaciones 2 (Jairo Arreola 29, Joel Benitez 41), Caledonia AIA 0 in Guatemala City

Connection, Caledonia finish bottom of Champions League groups

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