Sando trounce Defence Force

Anthony Parris found the back of the net twice for Sando, in the 18th and 40th minutes, while Jesse Downing (12th) and Ryan Frederick (42nd) were also on target as Sando led 4-0 a the half-time break.

Former national defender Michael Edwards reduced the deficit for Defence Force in the 54th before Sando restored their four-goal cushion in the 69th through Teba McKnight. Dwight Scott scored Defence Force’s second goal, in stoppage time.

Like Sando, Guaya United were also the beneficiary of a first-round bye. And they showed good determination to rally from a goal down to blank Joe Public 4-1 at the Guayaguayare Recreation Ground.

Ricardo Bennett gave Joe Public an 18th minute lead but Guaya rallied with items from Desta Francis (51st), Ryan Stewart (80th), Sherlon Campbell (84th) and Earlon Thomas (88th).

The third team to receive a bye into the quarter-final round, Malabar FC, fell 1-0 to Westside Superstarzs FC at the UTT O’Meara campus in Arima. Adrian Millette was the lone goal-getter, in the 59th. FC Santa Rosa have not been able to post a challenge in the League season but, in the knockout, they have shown their worth, particularly from the penalty spot.

For the second successive match, they needed kicks from the penalty spot, this time to defeat Real Maracas 4-3 at the Youth Training Centre (YTC) Ground in Arouca. After full-time, the scores were locked at 1-1 with Antonio Auguste putting Santa Rosa ahead on the stroke of half-time before Marvin Manswell equalised in the 49th.

The semi-finals will be staged on October 13 with a double-header at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, with Sando meeting Santa Rosa and Guaya against Westside.

Those four teams will automatically advance to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) 2013-2014 FA Trophy competition, while two other teams from the Super League will earn the right to feature in the FA event.

Also on October 13, there will be play-off matches — Maracas against Defence Force and Malabar versus Joe Public — with the winners of those games earning spots to the FA Trophy.

In related news, the Super League Knockout Final has been scheduled for October 20 at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva.