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BRAZILIAN Gefferson Da Silva Goulart boastfully ran towards the opponents' bench after hitting an expertly-taken free kick into the roof of the CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh net.


The 66th minute stunner proved to be the only goal in a tight Toyota Classic final at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Friday night and should have sparked celebrations on the part of the Vive CT105 W Connection faithful.

Instead, it set off a brawl.

Taking offence to Goulart's perceived taunt, hard-nosed Jabloteh coach Terry Fenwick made a deliberate movement and stuck out his right elbow into Goulart's face as he was about to run past the Jabloteh bench.

For his indiscretion, Fenwick was surrounded by several of the W Connection players and Brazilian midfielder Ronaldo Viana retaliated to the attack by striking the Englishman in the face.

Eventually, several players on both teams erupted into an all-out free-for-all on the field. At one point, Viana was racing for his life chased by Jabloteh's Kerry Noray and Ian Gray, who made a 40-metre dash from his penalty area before just missing with a kick at the Brazilian.

Also joining the fracas was former Jabloteh player Travais Mulraine, who came off the bench to engage his ex-teammate Ian Gray in battle.

By the time referee Richard Piper had regained control, four players were dismissed from the field and Mulraine sent off the bench.

Jabloteh coach Fenwick was also dismissed to a chorus of heavy boos from the entire crowd.

Also done for the night were Atiba Charles and Goulart of W Connection, while Jabloteh's Gray and Dexter Franklyn also had an early shower.

A total of six players got red cards, while many more escaped punishment.

T&T Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene called the incident regrettable and said sanctions will be taken against the offending parties.

"The Pro League will not condone any unsportsmanlike behaviour and indiscipline. The Pro League is about fair play and discipline and you can be sure that the Disciplinary Committee will look at it and take whatever action is necessary in the near future."

St Lucian Stuart Charles-Fevrier, W Connection's technical director, was also peeved about the incident, stating his team have never been associated with violence.

"This afternoon saw players reacting to one of our players being stuck by the Jabloteh coach and that started the whole thing," he said.

"He (Viana) was running and looking at the stands, looking at the people and he struck him with the elbow. I would never strike a Jabloteh player like that...that is violence. But, I am not surprised, Jabloteh under Terry Fenwick wants to win at all cost," Fevrier declared.

Except for Goulart's free-kick, the first-ever Toyota Classic final was tight.

The teams started with a flurry and both Earl Jean and Nigel Codrinton came close to scoring at either end in the opening minutes. But once settled, both defences started to dominate.

Connection, though, had the better of the first half, forcing Jabloteh custodian Daurance Williams into a couple of timely saves from efforts by Goulart and Andre Toussaint.

Connection also came close twice in the second half, with Jean hitting a diagonal shot across Williams and just missing the far post.

Toussaint also had the chance to give W Connection a second goal, when picked out in a wide position, but wasted an excellent opportunity by scooping his shot over the bar.

Jabloteh's best moments came when Trent Noel forced Connection's Colombian keeper Alejandro Figueroa to tip over his attempt early in the first half.

After the incident, Jabloteh chased the game looking for the equaliser, causing a couple scares with dangerous crosses into the W Connection penalty area.

With heavy tackles coming in all the time, a second violent incident looked a distinct possibility. And when temperamental national midfielder Aurtis Whitley and W Connection captain Jean went down in a bundle, another scrap seemed certain.

Fortunately, the two experienced players led their teammates by example and while on the ground Jean embraced Whitley, who returned the favour once off the turf. That was the high point of a game that at one time had gone terribly bad.