Defending champions WASA FC could not withstand the fast-improving Trinidad and Tobago Under-20 squad and went down 2-1 in a key bmobile National Super League match on Wednesday at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.
The national youths, recent winners of the Super League Knockout title, are on the ascendancy and currently lie fourth in the league.
The T&T Under-20s began Wednesday's encounter almost as quickly as they have been moving up the table, from an early-season mid-division position.
Striker Marcus Joseph had them ahead early, giving the U20s a 1-0 lead in just the third minute. But before the half ended, the champs were level at 1-1 via a 34th minute Darrin Lewis goal.
The scored remained tied for most of the match and the Under-20s only got their winner in the 80th minute through Daneil Cyrus.
WEDNESDAY'S NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE RESULTS:
Crab Connection FC 1 (Own Goal - 86th) v Harlem Strikers 1 (Kelon Williams - 25th)
Alcoa Carenage United 2 (Kyle Andrews - 3rd; Ricardo Peltier - 60th) v UTT 1 (Brenton Bain - 80th)
National U-20s 2 ( Marcus Joseph - 3rd; Daneil Cyrus - 80th) v WASA FC 1 (Darrin Lewis - 34th)
Economy Strikers 2 (Irvin Reyes - 3rd; Gary Jones - 86th)vM&M Harvard 1(Maurice Simpson - 64th)
Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix 3 (Dominique Kerr - 23rd; Brent Cruickshank - 85th; Le Jandro Williams - 90th) vSt Francois Nationals 1 (Barry Caresquero - 50th)
Club Sando 0 v Joe Public FC 2 (Brian Bain - 36th; Christopher Sam - 83rd)
UPCOMING NATIONAL SUPER LEAGUE MATCHES - SUNDAY
4 p.m. - UTT v Defence Force FC, Larry Gomes Stadium
4 p.m. - National U-20s v Harlem Strikers, Marvin Lee Stadium
4 p.m. - M&M Harvard v Alcoa Carenage United, Hasely Crawford Stadium Training Field
4 p.m. - WASA FC v Angostura 1976 FC Phoenix, WASA Ground, St Joseph
6 p.m. - Joe Public FC v Economy Strikers, Marvin Lee Stadium
St Francois Nationals v Club Sando (Venue and time to be announced).
U-20s edge champs WASA 2-1.
By: Nigel Simon (Guardian).
Defending champions in the bmobile National Super League, WASA had its lead at the top of the 13-team table cut to a mere one point after a 2-1 loss to the inform T&T Under-20’s at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya on Wednesday afternoon.
Going into the contest, the “Water Boys” held a comfortable four-points lead over Alcoa Carenage United, who had a match in hand and were also eager to avenge their 1-0 knockout semifinal loss to the Under-20’s the eventual winners.
However, the Zoran Vranes-coached national youth team was quick to settle and raced into a third minute lead through Marcus Joseph.
In an evenly contested match, Darrin Lewis, still recovering from a broken-leg tied up the score in the 34th minute to leave both teams level at the half.
On the resumption, both teams failed to stamp their authority on the match and despite a few chances at both ends, it seemed the match would end in a deadlock. But with 10 minutes left in the match, lanky Under-20 winger Daneil Cyrus conjured up a go-ahead goal for his team and with goalkeeper Glenroy Samuel in good form in goal, Vranes men held on for the win.
With the win, the Under-20’s improved to 29 points from 15 matches in fourth spot while WASA remained on 33 points from the same number of matches
Carenage took full advantage of WASA’s slip up and climbed to within a point of the leaders after a hard fought 2-1 win over cellar-placed University of T&T at the Youth Camp Ground, Chaguaramas.
Kyle Andrews fired Carenage into a third minute lead which they held at the interval. Ricardo Peltier doubled Carenage’s lead on the hour mark, before Brenton Bain pulled one back for UTT with 10 minutes left, however the host held on for the important win.
There were also wins for third and fifth placed clubs, Angostura 1976 Phoenix and bmobile Joe Public.
Phoenix whipped visitors St Francois Nationals 3-1 at the Canaan Ground, Bon Accord while Joe Public blanked host Club Sando 2-0 at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella. The league resumes with a full slate of matches on Sunday.
Wednesday’s results
CRAB CONNECTION 1 (own goal 86th) vs HARLEM STRIKERS 1 (Kelon Williams 25th).
CARENAGE UTD 2 (Kyle Andrews 3rd, Ricardo Peltier 60th) vs UTT 1 (Brenton Bain 80th).
T&T Under-20’s 2 (Marcus Joseph 3rd, Daneil Cyrus 80th) vs WASA 1(Darrin Lewis 34th).
ECONONMY STRIKERS 2 (Irving Reyes 3rd, Gary Jones 86th) vs HARVARD 1 (Maurice Simpson 64th).
PHOENIX 3 (Dominique Kerr 23rd, Brent Cruickshank 85th, Lejandro Williams 90th) vs ST FRANCOIS NATIONALS 1 (Barry Caresquero 50th).
JOE PUBLIC 2 (Brian Bain 36th, Christopher Sam 83rd) vs CLUB SANDO 0.
Sunday’s matches
WASA vs Phoenix, WASA Ground, St Joseph, 4pm
T&T U-20’s vs Harlem Strikers, Marvin Lee Stadium, 4pm.
Joe Public vs Economy Strikers, Marvin Lee Stadium, Malabar, 6pm.
UTT vs Defence Force, Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar, 4pm.
Harvard vs Carenage, Hasely Crawford Stadium, Training Field, 4pm.
St Francois vs Club Sando, TBA.