TT’s Jabloteh douse Chicago Fire

CLINICAL finishing by the strike pair of Cornell Glenn and Kerry Noray gave Caribbean Club Champions CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh a 5-2 triumph over MLS club Chicago Fire in their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-leg quarter-final at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. A Wednesday night crowd estimated at 8,000 were still settling down into their seats when Glenn struck in the eighth minute. The national striker dribbling past defender Kelly Gray on the right flank sent a low left-footed drive past goalkeeper Henry Ring.

Ring was also unable to prevent Glenn from scoring his second in the 12th minute, as the quick-footed forward dispossessed centre-back James Curtin outside the penalty box and slotted home past the advancing keeper. Glenn went on to complete his hat-trick in the 37th, thundering a right-footed blast off  a post from 20 metres out, after midfielder Otis Seaton blew past Fire’s right-back Evan Whitfield on the left flank. The Americans got on the scoresheet in the 40th, when national defender Ansil Elcock, celebrating  his 35th birthday, headed a right-side centre from Nate Jaqua into his own net. But Jabloteh maintained the pressure on the Fire outfit, and restored their three-goal advantage when Noray collected a back-heeled pass from Glenn, sped past two defenders and rifled his shot past Ring. Noray would get his second goal in the 73rd, again from a through ball by this time from Trent Noel, before substitute Justin Mapp netted Fire’s second in the 87th. The return leg will be contested at Soldier’s Field, Chicago, Wednesday.

In other matches, Monterrey (Mexico) were held to a goalless draw by Deportivo FAS (El Salvador), but Alajuelense (Costa Rica) blanked San Jose Earthquakes (US) 3-0 and Saprissa (Costa Rica) beat Mexican champions Pachuca 2-0.

Teams:  JABLOTEH - Daurance Williams; Cyd Gray, Nigel Daniel, Ansil Elcock, Ian Gray; Kerry Baptiste (Josh Johnson 55th), Aurtis Whitley (Michael Celestine 84th), Angus Eve, Trent Noel; Kerry Noray, Cornell Glenn (Devon Mitchell 66th).
CHICAGO - Henry Ring; Evan Whitfield, CJ Brown (Leonard Griffin 68th), Jim Curtin, Kelly Gray; Logan Pause (Justin Mapp 57th), Chris Armas, Andy Williams, DaMarcus Beasley; Damani Ralph, Nate Jaqua (Dipsy Selolwane 77th).