NLCL 24: Cale stun QPCC; La Brea hold Gasparillo at the death

Caledonia AIA served notice of their true potential yesterday evening with a surprise 3-1 win over QPCC – City FC in NLCL U19 Community Cup action at the Hasely Crawford Training Ground.

City FC started the day on top of Group A, coming off a 6-1 demolition of defending champions Soccer Made Simple (SMS) on the previous match day. However, Caledonia, who were second from bottom on the six team standings, brought them down to earth with a thud.

Versatile midfielder Khidr Atiba put Caledonia ahead in the 24th minute and the “Eastern Stallions” never looked back—as they raced to a 3-0 lead by the hour mark, with further items by Antonio Sealey and Ackeem James.

Flanker Micah Nelson managed a consolation item for QPCC, who slipped to second place with 10 points.

Athletic International Academy (AIA) returned to first place with 11 points, as captain Theo Crovador scored his fifth goal of the season in a 3-0 win away to Blast FC.

And SMS gave their supporters something to cheer about in Bon Air, with a 6-0 rout of Cantaro United—which took them to third, behind City FC on goal difference, with 10 points.

Table proppers Cantaro should have drawn first blood in only the second minute of play, as lively 15-year-old midfielder Jaseem Celestine won a penalty kick, only captain Derique Woods to shoot wide of the mark.

But the defending champions never looked back once Giovanni Hospedales opened the score summary with a header in the fifth minute and midfielder Stephano Christopher contributed his third goal of the season.

In Group B, a top of the table clash between leaders Point Fortin Youth FA (15 points) and second place Central Soccer World (12 points) was postponed due to ground availability.

And third place Gasparillo Youths failed to make up significant ground with the top two, or shake off fourth placed Made In La Brea—as the two played to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s Recreation Ground.

Three teams will advance from Group B to the knockout stages and only goal difference separated Gasparillo Youths from Made In La Brea at kickoff, with both on six points.

Malerky Fraser thought he did enough for Gasparillo with his second goal in as many games. But, four minutes into stoppage time, Ruben Williams ensured a share of the spoils from the penalty spot, in a late twist at Morne Diablo Recreation Ground.

There was a surprise at St Mary’s Recreational Ground too, as Daniel Hope bagged his first goal of the season in a 2-1 win for Kamillionare FC over Moruga FC.

It was the first points of the competition for Kamillionare, who had a nervy finish after Ayche Allum-Saunders got his fourth goal of the season for Moruga.

NLCL U19 Community Cup round-up

(Sunday 14 January 2024)

Group A

SMS 6 (Giovanni Hospedales 5, Stephano Christopher 61, Isaiah Audain OG 62, Jonathan Emrith 76, Khaleem Prince 77, Seretse Brown 90+2), Cantaro United 0 at Bon Air East Recreation Ground;

QPCC – City FC 1 (Micah Nelson 71), Caledonia AIA 3 (Khidr Atiba 24, Antonio Sealey 46, Ackeem James 60) at Hasely Crawford Training Field;

Blast FC 0, AIA 3 (Theo Crovador 16, Donte Gordon 53, 61) at Prime Minister’s Recreation Ground;

Group B

Gasparillo Youths 1 (Malerky Fraser 64), Made In La Brea (Ruben Phillip 90+4 pen) at Morne Diablo Recreation Ground;

Kamillionare FC 2 (Daniel Hope 34, Damarion Boswell 83), Moruga FC 1 (Ayche Allum-Saunders 71) at St Mary’s Recreation Ground;

Upcoming fixtures

(Thursday 18 January)

Group A

Blast FC vs Caledonia AIA, 5.45pm, Prime Minister’s Recreation Ground;

AIA vs Malabar Young Stars, 5.45pm, Eddie Hart Recreation Ground;

Cantaro United vs QPCC – City FC, 5.45pm, Cantaro Recreation Ground;

Group B

Moruga FC vs Gasparillo Youths, 5.45pm, Marac Recreation Ground;

Central Soccer World vs Point Fortin Youth FA, 5.45pm, Balmain Recreation Ground;

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

AIA                            5-3-2-0-17–1-11

QPCC – City FA     5-3-1-1-15-5-10

SMS                           6-3-1-2-10-8-10

Malabar YS             5-2-1-2-8-6-7

Caledonia AIA        5-3-0-2-10-13-6

Blast FC                     5-1-1-3-3-11-4

Cantaro United       5-0-0-5-3–22-0

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

Pt Fortin Youth FA 5-5-0-0-14–5-15

Central Soccer         5-4-0-1-10-6-12

Gasparillo Youths   5-2-1-2-9-6-7

Made In La Brea     6-2-1-3-8-9-7

Moruga FC                5-1-0-4-11-18-3

Kamillionare FC     6-1-0-5-8-16-3

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