Defence Force flanker Reon Moore scored in his second straight outing yesterday evening as the Army/ Coast Guard combination shook off last week’s home tie with Cavalier FC to defeat Golden Lion 1-0 in Martinique.
Moore’s goal came seconds after the restart, as he darted in off the left flank to collect a through pass from midfielder Rivaldo Coryat before tucking beyond Martiniquan goalkeeper Gilles Meslien.
The win moved Defence Force to the top of the five-team table with four points, although they have played once more then the remaining teams. The top two clubs in Group A advance to the Caribbean Cup semifinals, where they will compete for three berths in the Concacaf Champions Cup.
Fellow Trinidad and Tobago Premier Football League (TTPFL) outfit AC Port of Spain also play their second game today as they are away to Cavalier at The Office in Kingston, Jamaica.
AC need a result to boost their chances of advancing from the group after an opening 1-0 defeat to Moca FC in the Dominican Republic.
Defence Force got the three points they wanted, although they were made to sweat by the Martiniquan team that eliminated TTPFL outfit, Club Sando, to get this far.
Golden Lion goalkeeper Gilles Meslien, in particular, was inspired. The custodian made a superb double save to deny Coryat and Defence Force forward Brent Sam in the 33rd minute, following a Moore left side cross.
And, six minutes later, he produced an encore to thwart Sam and Moore after the latter player again supplied a cross from the flank.
Moore took matters into his own hands after the restart to settle the match though, on the same day that he was recalled by Trinidad and Tobago Men’s National Senior Team head coach Angus Eve in his 40-man long list.
After the international break, AC Port of Spain host Golden Lion from 6pm at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Wednesday 13 September while AC and Defence Force clash at the same venue from 6pm on Thursday 28 September.
(Team)
Defence Force: 31.Christopher Biggette (GK); 37.Cassim Kellar (3.Isaiah Garcia 81), 26.Justin Garcia, 23.Jamali Garcia (captain), 7.Jelani Felix; 66.Kevon Goddard (32.Jameel Cooper 88), 21.Justin Sadoo, 13.Rivaldo Coryat (28.Nathaniel Garcia 56); 45.Kaihim Thomas, 8.Brent Sam (24.Shaquille Holder 88), 18.Reon Moore.
Unused substitutes: 80.Jabari St Hillaire (GK), 6.Rodell Elcock, 11.Dwight Quintero, 14.Kendell Hitlal, 15.Shaquille Bertrand, 17.Curtis Gonzales, 25.Darnell Hospedales, 34.Keilon Burnett-Acevaro.
Head coach: Lloyd Andrews
Referee: Norberto Da Silva (Curaçao)