Gordon: We’re a ‘championship team’

Marvin Gordon, coach of Defence Force, commented, “I thought my players worked real hard but it was a poor game (by) the officials.

All and all, it was a great effort by my team to work hard against a championship team like Central FC and get a result like this.

“Defence Force (are) a championship team,” he continued. “Central have been doing well, they have momentum but I want to credit my players for a well-fought battle and the victory.” The scores were locked at 2-2 at the end of regulation time, in an engrossing encounter in front of a crowd estimated at 3,000. And, with kicks from the penalty spot needed to decide the winner, Defence Force were perfect from the spot to prevail 5-3.

Hashim Arcia scored Defence Force’s first effort, but Central FC captain Darren Mitchell’s shot ricocheted off the right post.

Curtis Gonzales, Justin Garcia and Jamali Garcia netted their efforts for Defence Force while Leston Paul, Kishun Seecharan and Julius James responded for the three-time Pro League champs.

Devorn Jorsling, needing to score to ensure Defence Force claim the $100,000 jackpot, directed his shot low to the left of Williams to spark wild celebrations in the squad, as well as a number of Army recruits who cheered their team lustily in the second half.

Earlier, Justin Garcia opened the scoring for Defence Force in the seventh minute, heading Marvin Jones’ freekick to the right of Williams.

Paul replied for Central FC in the 56th minute, sending Defence Force’s goalie Sheldon Clarke the wrong way from the penalty spot.

The decision from referee Crystal Sobers to award a spot kick caused heated debate by the Defence Force team, as she relied on the belated assistance of assistant referee Caleb Wales to award a foul on Mitchell, who was bundled over in the box by Justin Garcia.

Central FC, seeking to build on the momentum, pushed up numbers in attack but against the run of play, they fell behind again in the 66th. Striker Jamille Boatswain and Arcia exchanged passes in the centre of the Central FC defence before Boatswain got behind James and slotted a right-footed effort via the uprights.

Paul had another opportunity to even the score from the penalty spot seven minutes later, after a ball from Johan Peltier struck the arm of Jamali Garcia.

However, Paul’s cheeky effort struck the crossbar and was cleared to safety. In the 89th minute, Gonzales should have showed more composure when clearing the ball but hoofed it into the crowd.

The throw from Kaydion Gabriel caused trouble in the penalty box and the ball fell to Mitchell whose cross was headed home by Seecharan, though the Defence Force players were adamant that the substitute winger used his right arm in the process.