T&TEC needed a second half goal from striker Andre Toussaint to edge back into the Digicel Pro League lead, after a 1-1 draw with defending champions Defence Force on Friday.
In a rescheduled Round Two, Match Day One clash at Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Toussaint struck in the 70th minute to level proceedings.
Before that, Army led for 50 minutes after Dexter Thornhill scored in the 20th.
The point puts T&TEC level with Caledonia AIA on 19 points, but first with a five-goal advantage over the Morvant "Stallions".
The "Electricity Boys" have also played two matches less than Caledonia and one more than Adams Construction San Juan Jabloteh (third, 18 points) and W Connection (fourth, 18).
Defence Force also did some jumping up the table, moving from seventh to fifth due to a superior goal difference over DirecTV North East Stars, now sixth, and St Ann's Rangers (seventh).
Tuesday is the next Pro League match day, with a full slate of games at both the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar and Ato Boldon Stadium.
T&TEC earns vital point against Defence Force.
ttproleague.com.
Striker Andre Toussaint’s equalizer against Defence Force on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium in a rescheduled Round Two Match Day One Digicel Pro League fixture could prove vital for the Dexter Cyrus coached T&TEC FC.
The ‘Electric Boys’ returned to the top of the standings following Friday’s 1-1 draw, tied with 19 points as Caledonia and ahead by goals difference, but enjoys a one point lead on the Caribbean Football Union Club Championship qualifying table with two matches remaining just as Caledonia (18 points) and W Connection (18 points).
Defence Force were gifted a 1-0 advantage in the 20th minute from a goalkeeping blunder by Marvin Phillip who spilled a high attempted freekick cross by Albert Dexter Thornhill just inside his goal-line after a free kick was called against Romauld Aguillera on the right for handball.
That’s how the scoreline remained until the 70th minute from a hard attacking rrun by right wingback Coneal Thomas who made a quick low cross that Teesdale slid in to direct past goalkeeper Kevin Graham levelling the score 1-1.
In the end Defence Force, survivor of an early scare moved up the regular standings with 9 points into fifth, ahead of DIRECTV North East Stars and St. Ann’s Rangers by a better goals difference.
T&TEC striker Kerry Baptiste was denied by the crossbar in the 17th minute in a play started by Marcus Joseph’s right side corner and Anthony Noriega had two bites of the cherry on the rebound, first seeing his headed attempt cleared off the line and his second high overbar.
Baptiste had another good attempt in the 25th minute, curling a right footer his outside the upright after he was picked out by Toussaint’s short pass inside the area. The former TT Pro League/Toyota Player of the Year flashed another attempted overbar moments before the halftime whistle.
Defence Force’s Kevon Carter had a good sight on goal in the 41st minute, but only managed his attempt directly at Phillip who had enough of his body behind the ball to keep it out and seconds before the break Sterling O’Brian struck overbar for the Soldiers.
Thirteen minutes inside the second period and Baptiste was at it again, this time doing well against two defenders before playing a pass above the area to Joseph, but the T&T U23 midfielder only mustered a low shot directly at Graham who made a comfortable wrap.
Baptiste was later replaced by Tobagonian Kerlon Ferguson in the 66th minute and not long after came the Toussaint item.
T&TEC goalie Phillip was called into action in the 74th minute, gloving away an effort by Carter and wrapping a tame rebound header by substitute Jerwyn Balthazar.
And two minutes later the Soldiers were reduced to ten men when central defender Glynn Franklyn was shown his second yellow by referee Neil Brizan following a foul on Teesdale inside the centre circle.
The Soldiers last attempt on goal came in five minutes from regulation time with defender Rodell Elcock finding only the crossbar when he headed a right side freekick by Kerry Joseph.
T&TEC FC 1—1 Defence Force
Andre Toussaint 70’ ; Albert Dexter Thornhill 20’
T&TEC FC—Marvin Phillip, Romauld Aguillera (capt.), Akeem Adams, Kern Peters (Yellow Card), Anthony Noriega, Coneal Thomas, Sylvester Teesdale (Bevon Bass 78th), Brenton De Leon (Jay-son Joseph 83rd), Andre Toussaint (Yellow Card), Kerry Baptiste (Kerlon Ferguson 66th), Marcus Joseph.
Coach—Dexter Cyrus.
Defence Force—Kevin Graham, Corey Rivers (capt.), Sterling O’Brian (Jerwyn Balthazar 65th), Ross Russell Jr. (Kerry Joseph 38th), Glynn Franklyn (Yellow + Yellow = Red Card), Sean Narcis (Devin Jordan 80th), Richard Roy, Rodell Elcock, Kevon Carter, Albert Dexter Thornhill, Dexter Pacheco.
Coach—Ross Russell.