Jabloteh outclass Caledonia in FCB Cup

CL FINANCIAL San Juan Jabloteh totally outclassed Caledonia AIA while South West Institute of Football beat Joe Public on merit and an 89th minute goal as first-leg action in this year’s First Citizens Bank Cup quarter-finals.

The action began at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo, on Wednesday night. Jabloteh always looked the more comfortable of the teams and worked the field with their possession football while their defence kept Caledonia’s unimaginative forward line at bay. In the 36th minute however, it was a dubious penalty that gave Jabloteh the lead. National midfielder Otis Seaton took responsibility and spanked the ball to the right of the Caledonia goal past a diving Anthony Marshall.

Jabloteh seemed content with their lead and used their possession play to dominate the rest of the first half. The second half continued in the same vein as the first with Jabloteh seeing more of the ball and so dangerous in attack. But it was Caledonia that got the best chance for a goal when Ellis Dyet was played into the box by a clever flick, only for him to shoot well wide, summing up the evening that his team was having. 

Trent Noel sealed the win in the 78th minute with a determined solo run, winning the ball in midfield, shaking off his marker before placing a powerful shot into the top left corner out of the reach of Marshall in the Caledonia goal. The match featured contrasting styles of attack with the possession game beating the counter attack and was fairly physical with 44 fouls being committed, 19 by Jabloteh and 25 by Caledonia with  two yellow cards being shown, one a piece.

In other matches, W Connection edged defending champs Defence Force 2-1 with goals from George Isaacs in the 40th minute and Gefferson Goulart in the 53rd. Kurt Williams scored a consolation penalty in the 87th minute for the Army-Coast Guard men. Starworld Strikers recorded a 2-0 shut out over North East Stars with goals from Devon Bobb in the 47th minute and Kendal Velox in the 69th. And SWIF pipped Joe Public with  Marlon Lewis’ strike in the  89th minute.