Jabloteh sent packing from CONCACAF League

Another Pro League club, Central FC, meanwhile will fancy their chances at rebounding from a 2-1 deficit when they visit Panama’s CD Árabe Unido today in their second leg clash.

Jabloteh, determined to overturn a 6-2 loss in Costa Rica, drew first blood at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo after just three minutes through a converted Adrian Reid penalty.

The Jamaican defender wrong-sided Santos goalkeeper Alejandro Gómez from the penalty spot after Nathan Lewis was upended in the box by defender Pablo Arboine.

Gómez and Arboine were among six starting changes from the last meeting by Santos coach Johnny Chaves who had to do without first leg scorers Kenny Cunningham, Youstin Salas and Starling Matarrita – the latter two left out of the 18-man squad entirely after Sunday’s “difficult” 2-2 away draw against LD Alajuelense— the new club of Trinidad and Tobago international Jamille Boatswain—in the Costa Rican Primera Divison.

But unlike Santos who had taken the lead on four minutes in the first leg in Costa Rica on August 1 and went on to a comfortable victory over Jabloteh, the Trinidadian side lost the lead just over half hour when defender Jose Garro headed past goalkeeper Shemel Louison off a Wilmer Azofeifa free kick—Jabloteh’s mountain challenge to win by four clear goals turned into Everest.

Santos would later find the winner through Eder Solorzano in the 71st minute following a spill in the six-yard area by Louison into the path of Leonardo Adams, who, had his close up attempt blocked by the Jabloteh ‘keeper before playing back to Solorzano – Santos’ eighth scorer of the round of 16 – who fired into the net from ten yards out.

“Jabloteh played good attacking football (and made it) very difficult for us,” Santos coach Johnny Chaves said.

Santos shot-stopper Alejandro Gomez made two excellent diving saves in the last 20 minutes to put behind low drives from Julio Noel and Jevon Morris, while late substitute Kadeem Hutchinson saw his attempt from inside the box crash off the Costa Rican’s upright.

“You saw more confidence in the way we played and we stayed a lot more organised,” said Jabloteh coach Keith Jeffrey after the game. “In Costa Rica I think after four minutes when the goal—the penalty was given up, I think we opened up too much and that’s how they picked us off and that’s how we (conceded) six goals.

“But (on Tuesday) we (were) a lot better and we will use (the positives of) this game in the Pro League going forward and I am sure you will see us next year again (in CONCACAF).” Santos will face the Honduras Progreso-Chorrillo FC winner in the quarterfinal round, with the first-leg encounters played August 15-17.

Jabloteh, meanwhile, will now focus on a return to domestic play next Tuesday when they host three-time Pro League champions Central FC from 6 pm at the Barataria Oval. (tt prol eagu e.co m)