Joseph fires AIA to First Citizens glory

The TTEC bandwagon in the stands, who cheered on their team from start to finish, were sent in a frenzy when Sylvester Teesdale broke the deadlock in the 15th minute but Joseph responded in the 26th and 65th to ensure that his team walked away with the $80,000 jackpot, while Joseph was named the Most Valuable Player of the game.

The result seemed likely to favour TTEC as they were literally encamped in the Caledonia half, as they tested the backline which included Trinidad and Tobago Under-23 goalkeeper Zane Coker, a surprise inclusion ahead of Jamaica’s Kevin Graham.

Coker was relieved to see Andrei Pacheco’s effort fizz wide of his left pose, but the goalie made a mess of Pacheco’s freekick, and Kurlon Ferguson teed up Teesdale to slot the ball into the vacant net.

Against the run of play, Caledonia evened up the scores, with wing-back Joseph drilling home a right-footer following a darting run on the right flank.

Another national Under-23 selectee, Micah Lewis, missed a golden chance to put AIA ahead, in the 35th minute — he was given a pass from central midfielder Makesi Lewis and, with only goalkeeper Akini Adams to beat, he hesitated before shooting straight at the goalie.

Pacheco produced a wonderful save from Coker with a stinging long-range freekick early in the second-half, but another spot-kick would determine the outcome when Joseph directed his right-footed penalty to the left of Adams. Adams’ brother Akeem, the national “senior” and Under-23 left-back, got himself in a tangle with Micah Lewis and, after consulting with assistant referee Dion Neil, referee Michael Ragoonath awarded the penalty for Caledonia. TTEC had two glorious chances to equalise, in stoppage time, but both opportunities went a-begging.

In the first minute of added-on time, substitute Bevon Lewis met Teesdale’s corner with a powerful header which failed to hit the target.

And two minutes later, Lewis skipped past the challenges of Keyon Edwards and David Atiba Charles on the left but his cross was too far for the outstretched Daniel Garcia to meet.

Teams -

CALEDONIA AIA: Zane Coker; Nuru Muhammad, David Atiba Charles, Sheldon Emmanuel, Kareem Joseph; Stephan David (capt), Makesi Lewis (Trevin Caesar 63rd), Trayon Bobb, Micah Lewis (Abdallah Phillip 83rd), Akim Armstrong; Jamal Gay (Keyon Edwards 76th).

TTEC: Akini Adams, Kern Peters (capt.), Anthony Noreiga, Akeem Adams, Corneal Thomas; Romauld Aguillera, Kelvin Modeste, Sylvester Teesdale, Vurlon Mills (Daniel Garcia 58th), Andrei Pacheco (Bevon Bass 72nd); Kerlon Ferguson (Bevon Lewis 78th).