Jabloteh draw 1-1 with Tivoli

NIGEL DANIEL, one of the forgotten men of Trinidad and Tobago football, converted an 89th minute freekick to give CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh a 1-1 draw against Tivoli Gardens of Jamaica at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo on Wednesday night. Action was in the first leg of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) semi-final round qualification for the 2005 CONCACAF Champions Cup. Daniel, like clubmates Trent Noel, Otis Seaton (Aurtis Whitley), Travis Mulraine and Keyeno Thomas, seemed to be lost in the wilderness after cementing their places on the national team a year ago. But, after midfielder Waheem Walker brought down a goalbound Seaton inches outside the penalty box, the diminutive left-back stepped up and bent his freekick, around the wall and past the outstretch hands of Tivoli’s goalkeeper Kirk Porter.

The goal was really a lifeline to Jabloteh as only Noel — who wore the captain’s armband in place of newly-appointed interim coach Angus Eve — Daniel, Seaton and Thomas were able to come to grips with the intensity and aggression of their opponents. In fact, Barbadian referee Barney Callender was forced to order Tivoli’s coach Glendon Bailey off the sidelines as the teams awaited the start of the second half while six of his players —  Roland Dean (35th), Richard Brown (69th), Kasai Hinds (69th), Fabian Davis (72nd), Lenworth Hyde (76th) and Walker (89th) also received cautions for one indiscretion or another.

A horrendous blunder by national goalkeeper Daurance Williams in the 57th minute put Tivoli ahead —  Williams parried a long-range blast from Davis and the ball trickled back over his goalline. While Jabloteh fought hard on the wet conditions, the Jamaicans were contend on holding on to their goal advantage, but Daniel, in the 89th, had other ideas. In contrast to the Jabloteh-Tivoli fixture, Jamaican kings Harbour View earned a high-scoring 6-4 triumph over Intermeongetapoe of Suriname in another CFU semi at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium, Suriname. The second leg will be held today, also at the Suriname venue, with the finals scheduled on a home-and-away basis on December 8 and 15.

First Leg Scores: JABLOTEH (1) —  Nigel Daniel 89th vs TIVOLI GARDENS (1) —  Fabian Davis 58th; HARBOUR VIEW (6) —  Craig Stewart 4th; Luton Shelton 16th, 57th, 90th; Jomo Gordon 64th; Nicolas McCreath 80th vs INTERMEONGETAPOE (4) —  Johnny Bron 9th, 76th; own goal 39th; Claudio Pinas 60th.

Teams —
SAN JUAN JABLOTEH: Daurance Williams; Ian Gray, Ansil Elcock, Keyeno Thomas, Nigel Daniel, Cyd Gray (Josh Johnson 60th); Vernon Bailey, Trent Noel (capt) (Fabien Garcia 82nd), Autris Whitley; Nigel Pierre (Michael Celestine 63rd), Peter Prosper.
TIVOLI GARDENS: Kirk Porter; Richard Brown, Kasai Hinds (capt), Victor Thompson; Fabian Davis, Orane Simpson, Denroy Gordon, Marvin Morgan (Lenworth Hyde 65th), Waheem Walker; Markino Gillings (Fabian Malcolm 65th), Roland Dean (Kemar Mills 86th).