Jorsling sets up Army, Ma Pau final

But the Army/Coast Guard combination will be against former recruit Glenroy Samuel—a goalie determined to prove his worth to the Trinidad and Tobago national team selectors—and Ma Pau Stars in the 2016 final on December 2.

This after Ma Pau Stars booked their place in the final with a 3-2 penalty shoot-out win over Police FC following an enthralling 3-3 draw in semi-final two at the Couva venue.

Samuel, for a third time consecutive time in the tournament after penalty shootout wins over San Juan Jabloteh and last season’s champions W Connection, in the playoff and quarter- finals, respectively, had rescued Ma Pau Stars.

The 26-year-old former TT Youth World Cup goalie went one better than current Soca Warriors’ third choice ‘keeper Adrian Foncette by denying Police kickers Christon Thomas and Elijah Belgrave on the second and final kicks, respectively, all after proving too big for Todd Ryan who struck the crossbar on the Lawmen’s first kick.

Jibri Mc David had struck past Samuel from close up for a Police 1-0 lead on 34 minutes from a headed-on Thomas free-kick.

Ma Pau, though, were back on level terms three minutes later when Police defender Nequan Caruth handled a Jason Scotland cross into his own net to put the scores at 1-1.

But Belgrave, occupying an attacking role, restored coach Richard Hood’s side’s advantage 2-1 into the break. The ox-built utility player towered in the Ma Pau area to powerfully head past Samuel off a Christon Thomas corner.

The entertaining contest was far from over and Police surrendered the lead seven minutes into the second half after allowing Scotland to swooped in and bury the ball past Adrian Foncette, who spilled an effort from Hayden Tinto.

Police were guilty of poor marking again in the 79th minute when Jerrel Britto headed into space before Scotland coolly lobbed a hapless Foncette to complete his double and put Ma Pau in front the first time, 3-2.

Police were determined to find a way back, and after forcing no less than five superb saves out of Samuel in the second half, the Lawmen finally equalised for a 3-3 score five minutes from time when Belgrave headed into the far netting from a Kareem Freitas cross.

For Defence Force, though, the semi-final stage seemed simpler with a herculean Jorsling performance against his Morvant hometown club, he once represented.

The 32-year-old ex- TT international broke the deadlock with a superb free-kick that entered the top corner, beating goalkeeper Marvin Phillip, who was at full stretch on the stroke of half-time.

Jorsling, who scored a beaver-trick in his team’s 4-2 quarter-final win over St Ann’s Rangers a week ago, made it 2-0 less than a minute into the second half by rolling a shot past the Morvant Caledonia number one after holding off defender Taje Commissiong inside the area.

Jorsling completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot in the 68th minute.