Joe Public whip top US team

Spurred on by their home crowd, estimated at 1,500, the “Eastern Lions” Joe Public took advantage of a leg-weary New England squad (who played Toronto FC in an MLS clash on Saturday), but were let down by poor finishing by their attackers.

Mauricio Castro converted a late penalty for a crucial away-goal for the Americans, who will host the return leg on September 2 at the Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Massachusetts.

New England, missing Bermudan midfielder Khano Smith (national duty) and defender Chris Albright (injury), were on the back-foot as early as the second minute when veteran midfielder Arnold Dwarika teed-up Jamaican Wolry Wolfe on the left but the Jamaican’s left-footer was parried for a corner by goalkeeper Doug Warren.

Seven minutes later, another run by Dwarika resulted in a pass to Richardson who, on the right, squared the ball to Roen Nelson (one of three Jamaicans in the Joe Public starting line-up), but the muscular forward miscued his shot and the ball went wide.

Nelson, one of Joe Public’s top players, had a miserable night - in the 20th, he failed to meet another right-sided ball from Richardson, with Warren alone to beat.

New England’s captain Steve Ralston had to be replaced in the 25th due to a lower-back injury, and the Americans - including leading striker Taylor Twellman and Grenadian midfielder Shalrie Joseph, had one opportunity in the first half to break the deadlock, with goalie Alejandro Figueroa punching a 20-metre freekick from Jeff Larentwicz overbar in the 36th.

In the 42nd, Trinidad and Tobago midfielder Kerry Baptiste sent a long ball to Nelson who, after blowing past central defender Larentwicz, shockingly hit a left-footer well wide of Warren’s goal.

Joe Public’s constant pressure paid off in the 51st, as Baptiste made a run down the right flank and squared to Richardson who side-footed his shot to the right of the stranded Warren.

Nelson muffed his final chance, in the 64th, before he was replaced by Gay in the 69th; the lanky teenager, a minute later, collected a right- sided centre from Baptiste (who left his marker Chris Tierney for dead) and, with his first touch of the night, drilled his right-footer from close range.

In a rare attack, Joseph and Twellman played a one-two on the edge of the penalty area, which resulted in Joseph being taken down, in the box, by make-shift defender Carlyle Mitchell.

After Joseph received medical treatment, the Honduran Castro calmly tucked home the 76th minute penalty, to the right of Figueroa.

In Tuesday’s other pair of first leg preliminary round qualifiers, Mexican club Cruz Azul mauled Hankook Verdes of Belize 6-0 while Panamanian team Tauro FC upset Chivas USA 2-0.

Teams -

JOE PUBLIC: Alejandro Figueroa; Jason Springer, Keyeno Thomas, Christopher Harvey, Carlyle Mitchell, Wolry Wolfe (Kerry Noray 81st), Dale Saunders (capt), Arnold Dwarika (Lyndon Andrews 83rd), Kerry Baptiste; Reon Nelson (Jamal Gay 69th), Gregory Richardson.

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: Doug Warren; Chris Tierney, Jeff Larentowicz, Michael Parkhurst, Jay Heaps; Mauricio Castro (Joe Germanese 80th), Shalrie Joseph, Pat Phelan, Sainey Nyassi (Amaechi Igwe 65th), Steve Ralston (capt) (Wells Thompson 25th); Taylor Twellman.