Jabloteh retain Pro Bowl title

It was the third straight year that both teams were battling for the Pro Bowl title, and it took sudden-death penalty kicks to settle the score, after both were level at 0-0 full-time, and 2-2 after the penalty shoot-out.

After Devon Mitchell rifled his right-footer overbar, the evergreen striker Peter Prosper calmly tucked in his response to spark wild celebrations by the ecstatic Jabloteh supporters.

Under tournament rules, no extra time was contested when the scores were tied at the end of regulation time.

The defeat was even more heartrending for Connection, the inaugural champs in 2004, as they seemed destined for the crown after a 2-0 lead in the shoot-out, with a maximum of three kicks remaining for either team.

Andre Toussaint opened the scoring when his right-footed effort rebounded off goalkeeper Daurance Williams’ body and rolled over the goal-line while Earl Jean comfortably netted his team’s second.

Jabloteh seemed down for the count when captain Kerry Baptiste and Keyeno Thomas saw their attempts hit the post, but Ronald Primus and Josh Johnson scored the third and fourth efforts for the San Juan lads while the Brazilian duo Ronaldo Viana and William Da Silva Oliviera blasted theirs overbar.

Daurance Williams dived low to his right to save Elijah Joseph’s try, while Brent Rahim extended the drama further by sending his right-footer against the crossbar.

Both teams seemed quick on the ball, especially in attack, but lacked the finishing touches in the final stages of attack.

In the first match of the evening’s double-header, Neal and Massy Caledonia AIA won the third-place play-off against Defence Force by a 3-1 margin, following kicks from the penalty spot.

Kendall Jagdeosingh, Anthony Thompson and Sterling Arjoon were successful in their spot-kicks while Devon Jorsling converted the lone attempt for the Army-Coast Guard combination, with Anton Pierre, Corey Rivers and Anton Joseph all failing with their efforts.

Jason Cudjoe gave Caledonia a 38th minute lead before Defence Force replied with a pair of goals from their strike duo Kevon Carter (51st) and Jorsling (68th).

However, Jagdeosingh equalised in the 75th, forcing the match into penalties.

During the prize-giving ceremony, Mitchell was adjuged as the top goalscorer while Daurance Williams got the Most Valuable Player award.

Teams —

SAN JUAN JABLOTEH: Daurance Williams; Keyeno Thomas, Ronald Primus, Nigel Daniel, Ian Gray; Trent Noel (Wendell Joseph 73rd), Brent Rahim, Josh Johnson, Akeil Guevara (Peter Prosper 60th), Kerry Baptiste (capt); Lester Peltier (Elton John 78th).

W CONNECTION: Jan-Michael Williams; Elijah Joseph, Christopher Harvey, Nickcolson Thomas, William Da Silva Oliveria; Clyde Leon, Michael Celestine (Devon Drayton 76th), Ronaldo Viana, Hughton Hector (Devon Mitchell 71st); Andre Toussaint, Earl Jean (capt).