W Connection win Pro League opener 4-2

W CONNECTION made a resounding start to the new T&T Pro League season, with a 4-2 flogging of Starworld Strikers at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva, yesterday. But the Savonetta-based team had to come from behind twice, to record their victory in a match which saw five cautions and one red card being issued. Randolph Jerome who joined Strikers from North East Stars opened the scoring when he rifled in a shot in the 25th minute. But the sparse crowd was rooted from their seats with a tremendous 40-metre drive by Connection midfielder Elijah Joseph in the 34th minute, which knotted up the scores 1-1.

The well-travelled Marc Borde dribbled into the Connection penalty box, then spun and shot on the turn to regain the lead for Starworld Strikers in the 47th minute. Three minutes later, Earl Jean fired in a 30-metre drive to again tie-up  the scores. Starworld Strikers, despite playing with 10 men from the 44th minute, made it a contest until clever national striker Andre Toussaint found room in the penalty area in the 85th minute to give Connection their first lead in the match. And the young striker smashed home again in the 88th minute to ice the victory for his team. Starworld Strikers had Anton Ramnarine getting marching orders for a dangerous tackle in the 44th, and there were yellow caution cards for three striker players Sherwin Julien in the 54th, Dale Saunders 56th and Jerome in the 71st for “diving.”

Both Lyndon Diaz (22nd) and Kevin Modeste (62nd) were the Connection players cautioned. Today, the new merged Morvant/Arima Fire take on North East Stars at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, Arima, from 4 pm; while champions Cl Financial San Juan Jabloteh, further strengthened by the inclusion of national midfielders Kerwyn “Hardest” Jemmott and Stokely Mason meet debutants South West Drillers at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo from 6 pm.