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29
Fri, Mar

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Defending Digicel Pro League champions DIRECTV W Connection suffered its worse defeat of the season on Friday night.

After going up a goal seconds inside the second period from a powerful Shahdon Winchester strike, Connection took a dive, crumbling to a 5-1 defeat against current League leaders Defence Force.

Defence Force leads the standings with 16 points, followed by Caledonia AIA (13 points)--5-2 winners over Central FC in the first match of the Round One Match Day Seven double header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium--while Connection sits third with 9 points.

Connection were lucky not to concede in the first half thanks to a couple great saves from goalkeeper Aquelius Sylvester, who disappointingly went on to concede five goals in the second period.

Striker Devorn Jorsling enjoyed his first start, following a long spell only coming off the bench, by bagging a pair of goals and one each to Aklie Edwards and substitute Josimar Belgrave.

Jorsling was denied by Sylvester ten minutes into the match when the Connection second choice goalie pulled off a superb save at near post, in an opportunity that should have given the Soldiers an opening item off Corey Rivers right side cross.

Sylvester pulled off another in the 18th minute with an acrobatic save to push over a strike from distance by Kevon Carter.

And two minutes later Defence Force failed to find the back of the net again with Jorsling hooking a low Jemel Sebro cross inches wide of the upright.

Goal-less it remained at the break.

But Connection would stun the Soldiers seconds into the half when a quick play from kickoff was completed by Winchester's item for a 1-0 advantage.

However that advantage was shortlived. Defender Daniel Cyrus was credited with an own goal in the 48th minute following a raid by the Soldiers leveling the scores 1-1.

Defence Force made it 2-1 in the 53rd minute as leftback Aklie Edwards passionately celebrated getting his name on the scoresheet and giving his side the advantage.

Edwards was at the back post to comfortably bury a shot in goal after Connection's defense failed to clear a Corey Rivers corner.

There was no catching the Soldiers over the hour mark following Jorsling's double within a space of ten minutes.

Following an excellent string of passes from the left, Jorsling fired past Sylvester from the center of the area for a 3-1 score in the 56th minute.

And in the 66th minute the striker grabbed his second on the night with a superb curling effort off Rivers' cross leaving Sylvester and his defense beaten again for a 4-1 score.

Teammate Kevon Carter tried to join the fun in the 76th minute with time and space inside the left of the area but only managed to curl his effort wide of the far post to Sylvester's delight.

Connection was exposed again in the 81st minute and Sylvester beaten a fifth time when Defence Force substitute Josimar Belgrave showed no mercy to blast a shot past Sylvester from the top of the area for a 5-1 finish.

Connection's resistance included a couple second half attempts, however a diving save by Graham cancelled out a left footed strike from Joevin Jones from distance in the 56th minute. And in the 74th minute following a mix-up by Soldiers defense, goalscorer Winchester struck just wide.

Defence Force 5 - 1 W Connection
(Daneil Cyrus own goal) 48', Aklie Edwards 53', Devorn Jorsling 56', 66', Josimar Belgrave 81'  ;  Shahdon Winchester 46'

Teams

Defence Force--Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Jemel Sebro (Kerry Joseph 83rd), Devin Jordan, Curtis Gonzales, Keston Williams (Sean Narcis 83rd), Aklie Edwards, Kevon Carter, Jerwyn Balthazar (Josimar Belgrave), Rodell Elcock, Devorn Jorsling.

Coach--Ross Russell

W Connection--Aquelius Sylvester, Clyde Leon (capt.) (Yellow Card), Leslie Joel Russell (Elijah Joseph 25th), Kemuel Rivers, Akeem Benjamin, Daneil Cyrus (Christian Viveros 61st), Jerrel Britto (Yellow Card), Joevin Jones, Jomal Williams, Andrei Pacheco (Hashim Arcia 62nd), Shahdon Winchester.

Coach--Stuart Charles Fevrier.

Digicel Pro League Championship
Round One Match Day Seven
Saturday 22 December


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