Rangers hold Lions to 1-1 draw

JOE PUBLIC’s five-match win streak in the National Super League came to a halt on Tuesday when they were held to a 1-1 tie by Superstar Rangers at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna. But the “Eastern Lions” remain top of the table after their nearest challengers WASA Clean and  White also came from a goal down to also draw 1-1 against Club Sando at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. Joe Public have tallied 16 points from six matches, two more than the WASA lads. At Tunapuna, Jason Charles’ 20th minute goal was cancelled out by Nigel Hart’s equaliser 11 minutes later while, at Marabella, Marlon Lewis put Club Sando in front in the 71st before Keon Hernandez levelled the scores in the 81st.

L-Sporto Crab Connection got a pair from Marlon Warner as they were also forced to come from behind to defeat Medianet East San Juan United 2-1 in the second match of a double-header at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima. Warner, the 2003 league’s “Most Valuable Player,” netted in the 62nd and 73rd minutes after Wendell Isaac opened for San Juan in the 31st. The earlier match at Arima was a tense affair, as Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix and Carib played to a 3-3 draw. Brent Cruickshank gave the Tobago club a fifth minute lead before Clyde Gill levelled in the 36th. Phoenix went ahead a second time courtesy an own goal in the 39th but Carib stormed back, with strikes from Jellineau Gill (43rd) and brother Clyde (44th) giving the hosts a 3-2 halftime lead.

But there was more drama in store as Dominique Kerr got the match-saving equaliser for the Tobagonians in the 46th. Warren Phillips scored a hat-trick of penalties, in the 21st, 83rd and 85th minutes, as Biwater Stokelyvale whipped Maraval Youth Academy 3-0 at the Trinity College Grounds, Maraval while Police had a comfortable 3-1 triumph over Harvard at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. Neri Joseph (42nd), Shawn Rosales (46th) and Curt Danclair (68th) were the goalscorers for the lawmen while Kendell Baptiste (55th) got the lone item for Harvard. Moruga earned their second win of the season when they pipped Caroni 3-2 at the Otis Memorial Park. Nigel Williams (26th) and Marcus Emmanuel (38th) gave Moruga a 2-0 halftime cushion before Marlon Minguel pulled back one for Caroni in the 61st. An own goal put Moruga 3-1 up in the 87th and, while Ashmead Mohammed reduced the deficit a minute later, Moruga held out for the win.