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Defence Force sharp shooter Devorn Jorsling gave another demonstration of his scoring prowess this afternoon as the “Army/Coast Guard” combination edged Play Whe San Juan Jabloteh 1-0 in Pro League action at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
The result ensured that the Army will finish in third place for the second successive season and, once again, will not represent Trinidad and Tobago in the CONCACAF Champions League qualifiers.
In contrast, Jabloteh remain sixth and now have no chance of catching fifth placed North East Stars. It is an improvement for the “San Juan Kings” who finished eighth in the nine team table last season. But with wins over leaders Central FC and Defence Force, earlier in the season, and a tie with defending champions DIRECTV W Connection, there is a suspicion that Jabloteh can do even better than this.
There was little worth remembering this afternoon, though, in a typically flat contest involving two teams that can neither win a trophy nor be relegated. As such, the statistical tussle between the Pro League’s all-time record goal scorers Jorsling (134) and Jabloteh’s Kerry Baptiste (131) was the main point of interest.
Not for the first time this season, Jorsling came out on top with a swing of his left boot after a wall pass with Army midfielder Kerry Joseph. Jabloteh goalkeeper Shane Mattis barely had time to flinch as Jorsling’s strike from the edge of the area soared into the top left hand corner.
(Courtesy Wired868)
It was Jorsling’s 135th career league goal and his 20th item this season from 21 outings with just 13 starts. He may still need to lose a few pounds to tempt “Soca Warriors” coach Stephen Hart but, with captain Kenwyne Jones virtually untouchable, perhaps Central’s Willis Plaza shouldn’t take his CONCACAF Gold Cup squad place for granted.
Baptiste did a get chance to respond in the 53rd minute but held on too long and was kept out by alert Defence Force goalkeeper Sheldon Clarke. Clarke made two important saves from Jabloteh winger Tyrone Charles in the 69th and 89th minutes respectively to preserve the result although Jorsling also failed to take two decent chances in the second half.
The result did not flatter the soldiers though.
Next stop: Pro League coronation day on Tuesday at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva as W Connection tackles Police FC from 6 pm followed by Central versus North East Stars from 8 pm.
A draw would seal the title for Central while Connection, who have a game in hand, need a big win over Police and a Stars triumph.
(Teams)
Defence Force (5-4-1): 25.Sheldon Clarke (GK); 13.Marvin Jones, 22.Jamali Garcia, 6.Rodell Elcock, 21.Aklie Edwards, 17.Ross Russell Jr (90.Jelani Felix); 12.Jemel Sebro (11.Akeem Roach 55), 4.Dave Long, 99.Jerwyn Balthazar (captain), 23.Kerry Joseph (10.Josimar Belgrave 62); 9.Devorn Jorsling.
Unused substitutes: 28.Andre Marchan (GK), 2.Glynn Franklyn, 16.Kellon Serette, 26.Richard Roy.
Coach: Marvin Gordon
San Juan Jabloteh (4-2-3-1): 30.Shane Mattis (GK); 4.Garth Thomas, 15.Isaiah McIntyre, 6.Dario Holmes, 18.Jevon Morris; 24.Adrian Reid, 11.Damian Williams; 29.Tyrone Charles, 10.Kerry Baptiste (captain) (20.Nkosi David), 7.Andell Noray (9.Johan Peltier 60), 8.Newton Sterling (25.Micah Lansiquot 60).
Unused substitutes: 36.Raheem Belgrave (GK), 23.Brendon Figuera, 27.Tekay Hoyte, 28.Kendes Garcia.
Coach: Keith Jeffrey
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Pro League result
(Sun Apr 26)
Defence Force 1 (Devorn Jorsling 34), San Juan Jabloteh 0 at Malabar;
Upcoming fixtures
(Tue Apr 28)
W Connection v Police FC, 6 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium,
Central FC v North East Stars, 8 pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
Beautiful feats for two very talented players, Jorsling and Kerry! These are two stories that are especially good news for many a player in the Beautiful Game, as they are not the towering physical types but the rather, diminutive specimens. Should I suggest that Coach Hart be seriously considering Jorsling for the up-coming Gold Cup? Well, on the merits of what Jorsling has been doing and with the confident regularity that he has, I would say, “Stephen, you hardly have a choice”. However, like two other very talented players in this region, who have demonstrated awesome skills in and for their native countries especially when in their respective homelands, the USA and T&T, I do not believe that for two very real reasons, Jorsling would not be a match-fit for a Stephen Hart led team at this point in time. Like Landon Donovan of the US, and our very own, Arnold Dwarika, Jorsling is a good home horse and would find it difficult to parlay his scoring skills with the same ease and regularity on the international scene or, for a foreign club. The second reason is, Jorsling’s accomplishments (and personal experiences) have placed him, at his age, 31 (?), in a temperamental zone of his own and this is not going to carry over or sit well with the team’s configuration that Hart has been shaping over the past two-plus years. So while I like Jorsling to be a part of this up-coming Gold Cup, I think it’s better to keep the two apart and have it be said, “yuh see, if Hart had taken Jorsling, we woulda do this or dat”, just as we came away saying of Latas’ 20-minute stint versus Paraguay in the 2006 WC. It is better the way it turned out for Latas since his beautiful “Little Magician” storyline gets to live on as, that performance is all that we have been left with and to talk about. Jorsling, stay home and enjoy your accomplishments and legacy, and my only urging of you is that you make the pledge to give back to the sport and other young and “smaller” players so that their hopes can take wings – shrug off the “here-and-there” excessive cocky remarks and field-play gesticulations that only portray semblances of arrogance. Finish strong in play and character…thank you Jorsling.
135 and counting