‘Lobo’ double keeps Connection alive in Caribbean Championship; WCFC need result on Sunday

W Connection revived their chances of advancing past the group stage of the Caribbean Club Championship group stage last night after a 2-1 win over Jamaican outfit Arnett Gardens at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.

Forward Marcus Joseph scored two first-half items for the “Savonetta Boys” who led 2-0 at the interval. However, Fabian Reid, a former San Juan Jabloteh midfielder, halved the deficit for the visitors with a 62nd minute penalty while, in an open affair, Arnett Gardens struck an upright in the 77th minute.

It was Connection’s first result of the round robin tournament as they lost 1-0 to Haiti’s Real Hope Football Academy on Wednesday while Arnett Gardens drew goalless with the Dominican Republic’s Club Atlético Pantoja in the mid-week fixture.

Yesterday evening, Pantoja whipped Real Hope 3-0 at Couva to move to the top of the group. Venezuela striker Armando Maita grabbed a double for the Dominican Republic team while Luis Espinal scored the opener. The results left Pantoja with four points followed by Connection and Real Hope with three each and Arnett Gardens with one.

Arnett Gardens and Real Hope clash from 5pm on Sunday while Connection tackle Pantoja from 7pm.

The home team, led by Trinidad and Tobago assistant coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier, will need a point to advance if Arnett Gardens and Real Hope draw. Any other result in the opening match of Sunday’s double-header would leave Connection needing a win to get to the semifinal round.

Fevrier will not be short of attacking options, having used all of Joseph, Dimitri Apai, Akeem Garcia, Jevaughn Humphrey, Kadeem Corbin, Kennedy Hinkson and Quinn Rodney in his front three over the two matches.

Central FC go into action in Group B next Friday in the Dominican Republic.

(Teams)

W Connection: 18.Julani Archibald (GK); 16.Alvin Jones (captain), 3.Gerard Williams, 5.Triston Hodge, 2.Kurt Frederick, 6.Kevon Goddard (8.Jameel Antoine 68), 15.Jesus Perez, 19.Briel Thomas, 10.Dimitri Apai, 14.Quinn Rodney (23.Kennedy Hinkson 46), 99.Marcus Joseph.

Unused substitutes: 33.Jason Belfon (GK), 7.Akeem Garcia, 9.Kadeem Corbin, 17.Jevaughn Humphrey, 26.Isaiah Garcia.

Coach: Stuart Charles-Fevrier (St Lucia)

Arnett Gardens: 40.Damion Hyatt (GK); 5.Renae Lloyd, 8.Vishinul Harris, 9.Marvin Morgan, 11.Kemal Malcolm (3.Lennox Russell 73), 12.Jabeur Johnson (7.Jason Moore 66), 13.Fabien Reid, 15.Ranike Anderson, 16.Jamar Martin (33.Leon Strickland 66), 17.Kenniel Hyde, 19.Tamar Edwards.

Unused substitutes: 55.Shamarley Clayton (GK), 21.Al Nesbeth, 26.Ricardo Oldham, 27.Steve Clarke.

Coach: Jerome Waite (Jamaica)

Referee: Gladwyn Johnson (Guyana)

Caribbean Club Championship 2018

Group A

(Friday 2 February )

Real Hope FA 0, Atlético Pantoja 3 (Luis Espinal 35, Armando Maita 40, 59) at Ato Boldon Stadium.

W Connection 2 (Marcus Joseph 2, 13), Arnett Gardens 1 (Fabien Reid 61) at Ato Boldon Stadium.

(Wednesday 31 January)

Club Atlético Pantoja 0, Arnett Gardens 0, at Ato Boldon Stadium;

W Connection 0, Real Hope FA 1 (Jeudy Johnson 2), at Ato Boldon Stadium.

Upcoming fixtures

(Sunday 4 February)

Arnett Gardens FC v Real Hope FA, 5pm, Ato Boldon Stadium;

W Connection FC v Club Atlético Pantoja, 8pm, Ato Boldon Stadium.

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