Jorsling takes D/Force fourth; Caledonia climbs to seventh

Defence Force’s record goal scorer, Devorn Jorsling, bagged his eighth Pro League goal of the season as the defending champion club whipped Police FC 3-1 in Couva to move into fourth place on the nine-team standings.

The army/coast guard combination is still 10 points shy of present leader, DIRECTV W Connection, but has three games in hand and must play Connection twice before the end of the season.

If either Defence Force or Connection wins their remaining games, they will win the million dollar first prize. If they both drop points, then Central FC—who is seven points behind Connection with one game in hand—can snatch the crown.

It is an intriguing three-team contest and Defence Force did its part to keep the pressure on.

Jorsling opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a close range finish after a lofted pass by teammate Curtis Gonzales. It was Jorsling’s 106th goal for the “Teteron Boys” and his 114th Pro League goal in total.

San Juan Jabloteh captain Kerry Baptiste leads the all-time scoring charts with 122 goals split between Joe Public, T&TEC, North East Stars and Jabloteh while another former Public stand-out Arnold Dwarika (103 goals) is the only other player with over 100 Pro League goals. (Check TT Pro League 100-goal club).

Jerwyn Balthazar doubled Defence Force’s lead in the 29th minute before Josimar Belgrave wrapped up the score summary in the 89th minute. Police utility player Elijah Belgrave, brother of the final Defence Force scorer, managed a consolation item in the 33rd minute.

In the second match of the Ato Boldon Stadium double header, Caledonia took advantage of the Lawmen’s lapse to jump to seventh with a 3-1 win over Jabloteh.

The game was effectively decided in three frenzied minutes. Jean-Luc Rochford scored directly from a free kick in the 28th minute for his second league item and third goal overall since he joined Jabloteh in January.

But Montserratian striker Julian Wade equalised in the 29th minute and veteran Caledonia playmaker Densill Theobald grabbed another item in the 30th minute as the “Eastern Stallions” stormed ahead.

Theobald, who scored with a low strike from just inside the penalty area, is Caledonia’s leading scorer this season with a respectable seven goals, which is a record haul for the former World Cup 2006 player in a single season. Who said an old dog can’t learn new tricks?

Wade completed his double in the 90th minute as the clinical finisher looks set to end an injury plagued season on a high note. His three league goals this season have come in his last two outings.

 

Pro League results

(Sun Apr 13)

Defence Force 3 (Devorn Jorsling 15, Jerwyn Balthazar 29, Josimar Belgrave 89), Police 1 (Elijah Belgrave 33) at Couva

Caledonia AIA 3 (Julian Wade 29, 90, Densill Theobald 30), Jabloteh 1 (Jean-Luc Rochford 28 FK) at Couva

 

Upcoming fixtures

(Tue Apr 15)

Police FC vs Defence Force, 6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

San Juan Jabloteh vs Point Fortin Civic, 8 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

St Ann’s Rangers vs Caledonia AIA, 6 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium;

North East Stars vs Central FC, 8 pm, Hasely Crawford Stadium.

[standings league_id=2 template=extend logo=true]