NLCL 24: AIA hold City FC 1-1 despite Trestrail opener; “Baby Hulk” inspires Pt Fortin Youth

Athletic International Academy (AIA) and QPCC – City FC maintained their unbeaten records in the 2023/24 NLCL U19 Community Cup yesterday as they played to a 1-1 draw in a top of the table Group A clash at the Eddie Hart Recreation Ground in Tacarigua.

The result means that AIA remain in pole position. However, the difference between first and second (City FC) is a solitary point, while the latter team have a game in hand.

Fifteen-year-old Fatima College playmaker Caden Trestrail put the City boys ahead in the 59th minute, as he blasted through a crowded penalty area after being teed up by teammate Micah Nelson off an indirect free kick.

It was Trestrail’s third goal from as many matches this season as well as the first item conceded by AIA custodian Joash Harris in the current edition of the competition.

Trestrail did not get the final word, though, as AIA midfielder Tarique Abdulla managed an equaliser—midway through the second half—after City FC failed to clear a Theo Crovador free kick, to bring the two teams level at one-apiece.

The Community Cup format is a testing round-robin format with teams facing each group opponent twice with a guaranteed 12 matches. So maybe Caledonia AIA, not-so-fashionably late during the week, still have time to chase honours.

The “Eastern Stallions” were trounced 8-0 by AIA on Thursday, after kicking off a player short. However, on their home turf at the Morvant Recreation Ground, Caledonia tallied their first win of the season yesterday as they held off Malabar Young Stars 2-1.

Malabar, who started the afternoon in third place, would have jumped to first with a win. Instead, they were two goals down within the first hour, as Keiron Hinds and Khidr Atiba put Caledonia AIA ahead.

And Shakeim Jack’s late goal was just a consolation item for the Young Stars, who slipped to fourth with their second loss of the season.

Soccer Made Simple (SMS) capitalised on an off-day for Malabar Young Stars, although the defending champions had a nervy wait for their winner against Blast FC. It came from a clever flick by Arima North Secondary midfielder Stephano Christopher in the 81st minute.

Christopher now has goals in successive matches for SMS—both match winners—as the Bon Air-based team try to recover ground in their bid for a third straight NLCL U19 crown.

In Group B, a top of the table clash between south Trinidad’s two teams in the competition ended with a clear winner as Point Fortin Youth Football Academy downed Gasparillo Youths 3-2 at at Lumsden Recreation Ground.

In a see-saw affair, Point Fortin led 1-0 at the interval only to fall behind 2-1 after second half strikes by Jerrell Griffith and Malik Young.

Isaiah “Baby Hulk” Jacob could not be stopped though, as the Presentation College (San Fernando) midfielder completed his hattrick with two goals in the last eight minutes to snatch the result.

Point Fortin are now three points clear at the top of the table while Central Soccer World leapfrogged Gasparillo to second place, courtesy of a 2-0 win over Made In La Brea.

NLCL U19 Community Cup results

(Sunday 7 January 2023)

Group A

Caledonia AIA 2 (Keiron Hinds 38, Khidr Atiba 49), Malabar Young Stars 1 (Shakeim Jack 77) at Morvant Recreation Ground;

Blast FC 0, Soccer Made Simple 1 (Stephano Christopher 81) at Constantine Park;

AIA 1 (Tarique Abdulla 68), QPCC – City FC 1 (Caden Trestrail 59) at Eddie Hart Recreation Ground;

Group B

Gasparillo Youths 2 (Jerrell Griffith 50, Malik Young 58), Pt Fortin Youth FA 3 (Isaiah Jacob 22, 82, 89) at Lumsden Recreation Ground;

Made In La Brea 0, Central Soccer World 2 (Kaeden Robertson 17, Kelon Williams 33) at Brighton Recreation Ground;

Group A Standings (Tabulated as played-won-drew-lost-goals for-goals against-points)

AIA                            4-2-2-0-14–1-8

QPCC – City FA     3-2-1-0-8-1-7

SMS                          4-2-1-1-3-2-7

Malabar YS             4-2-0-2-7-5-6

Blast FC                    3-1-0-2-2-7-3

Caledonia AIA       3-1-0-2-2-10-3

Cantaro United     3-0-0-3-1–11-0

Group B Standings (Tabulated as played-won-drew-lost-goals for-goals against-points)

Pt Fortin Youth FA 4-4-0-0-8-4-12

Central Soccer         4-3-0-1-8-5-9

Gasparillo Youths   3-2-0-1-7-3-6

Moruga FC                 3-1-0-2-9-10-3

Made In La Brea     4-1-0-3-4-7-3

Kamillionare FC     4-0-0-4-5-12-0

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