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United Petrotrin pulled off the shock result of the First Citizens Bank Cup quarterfinal round, coming from a 2-0 deficit to slip past the fancied Caledonia AIA/Fire 4-2 on penalty-kicks, at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella, on Friday night.

The “Oilmen” were joined in the last four by 2002 champions and last year’s beaten finalist Defence Force and three-time winners CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh.

At Marabella, facing a 2-0 score with 35 minutes left and all looking lost for former national defender Brian Willians and his United Petrotrin club,the turn around began.

Densill Theobold with a 37th minute strike and Nigel Hart, 20 minutes into the second-half had given AIA/Fire a 2-0 cushion and hopes of erasing last year’s 5-1 first- round drubbing from Starworld Strikers.

But United Petrotrin had its own ambitions, and were ready to play the role of spoilers.

With $35,000 at stake for the winner of the Cup and $30,000 for second, the “Oilmen” dug deep and mounted a comeback, beginning in the 67th minute through former national youth striker Jerol Forbes, through a pass from Kevon Clement.

Still with only seconds left in the match and the score at 2-1, the odds were stack against Petrotrin advancing. However, a poor decision by Stokely Mason to hold on to the ball in his own half proved to be critical.

Clement got a pass from Kennedy Hinkson and with his team-mates on the bench on their feet he buried the ball into the net, sparking off celebrations among supporters.

More tension was to come in the penalty shoot, as Mason made up for his earlier mistake by putting away his kick, while Kayode Mc Kinnon also converted his for AIA/Fire.

Petrotrin was also perfect from the spot, with Brent Garcia and Dwayne Ellis, one of three recent signings from W Connection, both scoring.

Stephen David, playing in his first match for AIA/Fire after his move from Indiana FC in the USA, then missed his attempt for AIA/Fire, while Jamal Ayers scored to put the oilmen ahead 3-2.

AIA/Fire’s Dale Simon then had his attempt blocked by goalkeeper Perry Martin, which left Hinkson with the chance to win the match for Petrotrin, which he did.

The success could not have come at a better time for coach Williams, in addition to avenging two league defeats, 2-0 and 3-0, by AIA/Fire.

In a match that was over two minutes into the second-half, Jabloteh got goals from five players to rack up a fourth straight win against the Tobagonians at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Malabar.

Kerry Noray, a threat to the Tobagonians all night, opened the scoring midway through the first-half and Trent Noel double the lead in the 43rd minute.

Two minutes into the second-half, Jabloteh, three-time winner of the Cup (1999, 2000 & 2003) put the match out of Tobagonian’s reach when Whitley slammed home a rebound inside the 18-yard box.

Three minutes later, Eve beat goalkeeper Shean Warner from the penalty spot after Warner had brought down Noray in the area.

Warner give away a second penalty in the 55th minute, this time for a foul on Josh Johnson, however Whitley made a mess of the attempt, kicking high and wide to the right of the target.

Tobago, who showed little signs of resistance finally scored in the 75th minute.

Captain Dwayne Jack’s header from inside the area hit the bottom right post and with goalkeeper Duarance Williams beaten, it rebounded to Williams, who guided it over the line.

Johnson then capped off a good effort by blasting a 35-yard right foot shot past the lunging right hand of Warner and into the top right corner of the goal to seal his team’s win.

Defence Force-North East Stars

Defence Force set up a re-match of last year’s final with Cup holders VIBE CT 105 W Connection after a hard-fought 2-1 win over National Quarries North East Stars in the second match at Malabar.

Christon “Paw Boy” Baptiste (26th) and Anton Pierre (37th) both finished clinically with left foot volleys from right side looping crosses, to beat goalkeeper Michel Peters for the 2002 winner to lead 2-0 at the interval.

Stars had their chances through lively captain Anthony Wolfe and striker Fabian Garcia, but their attempts were turned away by Defence Force custodian Cleon John. In the second-half, both Defence Force and Stars continued to create chances, but failed to find the mark, until Wolfe converted from the penalty spot in the 78th minute, beating substitute custodian Kevin Graham.

First Citizens Cup quarterfinal results:

UNITED PETROTRIN 2 (Jerol Forbes 65th, Kevon Clement 90th) vs CALEDONIA AIA/FIRE 2 (Densill Theobold, Nigel Hart 65th). United Petrotrin won 4-2 on penalty-kicks.

SAN JUAN JABLOTEH 5 (Kerry Noray, Trent Noel 43rd, Aurtis Whitley 47th, Angus Eve 51st, Josh Johnson 84th) vs TOBAGO UNITED 1 (Noel Williams 75th).

DEFENCE FORCE 2 (Christon Baptiste 26th, Anton Pierre 37th) vs NORTH EAST STARS 1 (Anthony Wolfe 78th).