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DIRECTV W Connection and Defence Force both advanced into the semi-final round of the 2013 Toyota Classic by registering contrasting 4-1 quarter-final round victories on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium against Malabar FC and Central FC respectively.

Connection made easy of the Super League outfit, Malabar, and will next meet the winner between Point Fortin Civic and Guaya United, which will be decided on Sunday from 3pm at the Mahaica Oval, Point Fortin.

Defence Force, meanwhile, moves on to meet Super League leaders and recently crowned Super League knockout champions, Club Sando. Sando, coached by former St. Ann’s Rangers head coach Anthony Streete, defeated Caledonia AIA 11-0 on penalties on Friday night at the very same Couva venue following a 2-2 draw.

Defence Force had one player in its way in the second match of the double header on Saturday night, and that player was Central FC second choice goalie, 18 year-old Javon Sample.

Sample—a reliable starter in absence of Trinidad and Tobago international goalie Jan Michael Williams, currently in the Warriors’ camp ahead of Tuesday’s second leg friendly against Jamaica in Port of Spain—was brilliant on the night despite conceding an early goal and three late items.

It was his defense that gave away in the 9th minute, allowing Richard Roy to fire home for a 1-0 Defence Force advantage following a touch-on by Josimar Belgrave.

Central pulled the scores level 1-1 in the 60th minute when substitute Keon Trim controlled long Jason Marcano cross, which Army left-back Ross Russell Jr. strangely avoided, and fired past goalkeeper Kevin Graham.

And between conceded the opening item and Army’s second item, Sample had to produce six magnificent saves, forcing Defence Force head coach Ross Russell to fetch the services of reliable, but short of match fitness, forward Devorn Jorsling.

Central head coach Terry Fenwick, who led his side to a 5-0 FA Trophy first round win on Thursday night against FC Santa Rosa, tried solving his defensive problems by replacing Dwight Pope with Tobagonian Omarr Charles at the break, however that didn’t help their defensive problems.

Jorsling, who replaced attacking midfielder Belgrave in the 62nd minute, delivered in the 73rd minute, when he slid in to direct a Jemel Sebro cross into the back of the net and restore the soldiers’ advantage, 2-1.

Jorsling then combined in the 82nd minute with Kevon Carter, for a neat exchange, and the later finally got his name on the score-sheet by slipping a low strike past Sample for a 3-1 cushion.

Then in the 86th minute, Jorsling nailed the coffin by picking up a Carter pass and rifling a powerful shot into the roof of the net for a 4-1 final score and revenge against the club that defeated them 2-1 in the Final of the 2013 First Citizens Cup last month.

Connection, in the earlier contest, made easy of the Super League outfit, Malabar, and got its opening item from Brazilian full-back Joao Ananias Jordao Jr., who converted from the penalty spot against goalkeeper Zane Coker in the 8th minute for a 1-0 score.

It was from a Yefer Steven Lozano’s strike from distance crashed onto the arm of Malabar captain Keston Pierre that referee Garfield Weekes pointed to the spot.

Connection later improved its advantage in quick succession with a double by striker Jerrel Britto.

In the 17th minute, Britto met the end of a Kurt Frederick cross, by putting it past Coker for a 2-0 cushion. And in the 19th minute Britto latched onto a long ball forward by Jordao Jr. to meet goalkeeper Coker in a one-on-one situation and finished comfortably for a 3-0 score.

Malabar was close to finding the back of the net seconds inside the second period after a neat flick by former Connection player, Gorian Highley, was hammered just wide by Hayden Tinto.

The Super League outfit finally pulled one back in the 65th minute, when another flick forward by Highley, was picked up by another former Connection forward, Kevon Woodley, who made no mistake against goalkeeper Julani Archibald, reducing the deficit 1-3.

And two minutes later, Cyrano Glen spanked an effort inches wide of the upright for a confidence boosted Malabar.

However Connection captain, Gerard Williams, later reminded Malabar who was in charge, when he volleyed past Coker from on top the area by meeting a Hashim Arcia cross for a 4-1 score.

Malabar was close to another item four minutes from time when substitute Shandell Samuel flashed an effort just wide of the far post, but not even some five minutes of added on time was helpful.

In the end Connection were comfortable winners, but advances into the semi-final round without defender Mekeil Williams who was red carded by Weekes during injury time for obscene language.

2013 Toyota Classic Quarter Final Round Results

W Connection 4—1 Malabar FC
Joao Ananias Jordao Jr. 8’(pen), Jerrel Britto 17’, 19’, Gerard Williams 74’  ;  Kevon Woodley 65’

Teams

W Connection—18. Jelani Archibald, 3. Gerard Williams (capt.), 19. Leslie Joel Russell, 24, Joao Ananias Jordao Jr., 2. Kurt Frederick, 15. Mekeil Williams (Red), 28. Jhon Stiven Reyes Lopez, 14. Hashim Arcia, 27. Yefer Steven Lozano (40. Jomal Williams 70th), 31. Jerrel Britto, 65. Neil Benjamin Jr. (13. Devaughn Elliott 70th)

Unused substitutes—22. Aquelius Sylvester (GK), 6. Celio Guilherme Da Silva Santos, 39. Alvin Jones, 17. Jamal Clarence, 25. Christian Felipe Viveros

Coach—Stuart Charles Fevrier

Malabar FC—69. Zane Coker, 3. Keston Pierre (capt.), 7. David Power Bernard, 9. Cyrano Glen, 10. Hayden Tinto, 15. Sherwayne Morris (82. Shandell Samuel 65th), 19. Kevon Woodley, 20. Gorian Highley, 22. Dinell Lopez, 26. Norell George (13. Calvin Shepard 65th), 88. Jesse Martinez

Unused substitutes—1. Shane Mattis (GK), 6. Julio Noel, 17. Jameel Neptune, 18. Kendall Velox, 90. Noicholas Armstrong

Coach—Julius Edwards

Match Referee—Garfield Weeks

2013 Toyota Classic Quarter Final Round Results

Central FC 1—4 Defence Force
Keon Trim 60’  ;  Richard Roy 9’, Devorn Jorsling 73’, 86’, Kevon Carter 82’

Teams

Central FC—25. Javon Sample, 10. Marvin Oliver (capt.), 2. Elton John, 3. Keion Goodridge, 6. Toric Robinson (22. Keon Trim 55th), 7. Jason Marcano, 9. Dwight Quintero, 11. Darren Mitchell, 12. Jamal Jack, 19. Dwight Pope (4. Omarr Charles 46th), 23. Hector Sam (13. Johan Peltier 55th)

Unused substitutes—8. Shem Alexander, 15. Kaydion Gabriel, 16. Akil De Freitas,  18. Kevon Goddard

Coach—Terry Fenwick  

Defence Force—1. Kevin Graham, 11. Kevon Carter (capt.), 4. Dave Long, 5. Devin Jordan, 6. Rodell Elcock, 10. Josimar Belgrave (9. Devorn Jorsling 62nd), 12. Jemel Sebro (23. Kerry Joseph 88th), 13. Marvin Jones, 15. Jerwyn Balthazar, 17. Ross Russell Jr., 26. Richard Roy (80. Adrian Welch 87th)

Unused substitutes—25. Sheldon Clarke (GK), 3. Keston Williams, 14. Corey Rivers, 18. Sean Narcis

Coach—Ross Russell