Plaza fires Jabloteh past Police

The result stretched coach Keith Jeffrey’s winning stretch to three games and, more so, tightened the 2016-2017 standings at the top after five games.

Jabloteh, now on 12 points, hurdled W Connection and St. Ann’s Rangers, both on 10 points, to occupy second behind two-time defending champions and current leaders Central (13 points).

Plaza put the San Juan Kings ahead 1-0 on 13 minutes at the Ato Boldon Stadium, heading in from close up to beat his Trinidad and Tobago teammate Adrian Foncette in goal for Police. Foncette had made an initial block after Plaza connected to a left side Tyrone Charles’ cross but was unable to deny the Soca Warriors forward on the rebound.

Jamal Gay, despite occupying a position closer to his team’s goal and not the usual target man upfront, doubled Jabloteh’s lead in the 24th minute for his second goal of the season.

Defending was poor by Police when they allowed former player Noel Williams to whip in a left side behind the backline to find Plaza who had two bites of the cherry but was denied by Foncette and Nequan Caruth off the line. but Gay rifled the second rebound into the back of the net.

Police did find a goal on the stroke of halftime to trim the deficit.

Christon Thomas blasted the ball past goalkeeper Andrew Durant and defender Adrian Reid at the goalmouth off a squared pass above the six-yard area by Jameel Perry.

But Plaza, after galloping down the right, restored Jabloteh’s twogoal cushion in the 64th minute for a 3-1 score.

Defender Ryan O’Neil’s legs wobbled before he hit the ground following a couple mesmerising twists right of the goal by Plaza, who later let off a left footed strike past Foncette for his fifth goal to now lead the scorers’ list.

Police, without inspirational captain and midfielder Todd Ryan and forward Kareem Freitas, pressed desperately in search of snapping a three-game winless run while Jabloteh seemed comfortable on the counterattack.

The Lawmen found a second goal five minutes from time following a 25-yard effort from substitute Keion Wilson that caught Jabloteh, including goalkeeper Durant by surprise. Wilson celebrated his third goal of the season but it wasn’t enough to avoid defeat.

Police, occupying fifth position with five points, return to play tomorrow against leaders Central at 6pm, followed by an 8pm top-ofthe- table clash between W Connection and St. Ann’s Rangers, all at the Ato Boldon Stadium.