Sidebar

29
Fri, Mar
29 New Articles

Typography
"I train hard for (goals like) that," said Vibe CT 105 W Connection midfielder Jose Seabra. "It is normal."


The ear-to-ear grin sported by Connection captain Earl Jean suggested that something was up. Seabra must have been joking. The 32-year-old Brazilian might score a dozen similar strikes in the remainder of his career but it is unlikely to provoke the response he did at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium, Marabella on Tuesday night.

Not since David Rudder sang "Bahia Girl" has a Brazilian flourish brought so many Trinidad and Tobago citizens to their feet.

Seabra, who was born in Bauru, Sao Paolo, resurrected Connection's 2007 CONCACAF Champions' Cup dreams by creating one goal and scoring another as the Pro League team recovered from a goal deficit to edge Mexican outfit Club Deportivo Guadalajara 2-1 in the first of a two leg club series.

His thrilling cameo-he played 30 minutes in total-was an early Valentine's Day gift for Connection owner David J Williams as well as supporters of the domestic game in general and the Pro League in particular.

"Our president has dedicated his life to this football team," said Jean, a St Lucian international. "And the players really appreciate it."

Undoubtedly, Seabra has been spreading the love. Last month, his wife, Regina, gave birth to the couple's second daughter and, despite the magnitude of Tuesday's tie, Connection allowed the player to remain in Brazil on compassionate leave until a week before the CONCACAF fixture.

It was a particularly touching gesture as Seabra missed the entire 2006 season with a cruciate ligament injury.

But he returned the love in audacious fashion.

On the night, Connection were big on effort-the courageous displays by perceptive St Lucian sweeper Elijah Joseph and gutsy right back Nickcolson Thomas typified the club's resistance-but short on quality and players. Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Jan-Michael Williams, who is also the 2006 Pro League MVP, was ejected in the 20th minute after handling outside his penalty box.

For much of the first hour, Jean and Gefferson Goulart, one of three Brazilians in the Connection squad, led the offensive line admirably but without adequate support.

Seabra's introduction-he replaced Andrei Pacheco in the 59th minute-added impetus to coach Stuart Charles-Fevrier's men although Mexican international Omar Bravo put Guadalajara ahead, two minutes later.

Connection's equaliser owed much to a slice of good fortune.

In the 79th minute, Mexican defender Diego Martinez attempted to knock the ball off Seabra only for it to ricochet off his own shins and spin out of play for a corner kick. Goulart's initial set piece was blocked by the Guadalajara defence but he picked out Seabra with the rebound and the latter player weaved two opponents to find room in the box.

Seabra's shot, at full stretch, took a heavy deflection but, again, fortune favoured the hosts as the ball looped over the Mexican goalkeeper, Luis Michel, and Jean pounced with a mighty leap and unerring flick of the head.

Connection's winner showed the best of Seabra and made a mockery of the government's failure to award citizenship to the player who became a Trinidad and Tobago resident two years ago and earned a solitary cap under former national coach Bertille St Clair before Sport Minister Roger Boynes declared that he must wait seven years for a passport.

On the break, Goulart played an early diagonal ball to defender Devon Drayton who, in Connection's regained spirit of adventure, had popped up on the right flank. Drayton found substitute Andre Toussaint-25 metres from the Mexican goal-who, in turn, slipped a pass to Jean to his right.

Jean, with his back to the opposing goal, brought his right foot behind his standing left leg-à la Cristiano Ronaldo-to send an extravagant pass to Seabra, who was charging towards the Guadalajara 18-yard box. There was little time to savour Jean's cheeky cross, though, as the Brazilian's first touch teed up the ball nicely and fans inched to the edge of their seats.

"I knew it would go in," said Jan-Michael. "I mean, I train with the guy every day after all."

It did not dampen the celebrations from Connection staff and supporters alike as the stadium erupted in response to his measured left foot volley.

"It was the first time I ever experienced the home crowd respond like that," said Williams.

Seabra was modest to a fault, though, and his recollection of the strike did not do it justice.

Trinidad and Tobago coach Wim Rijsbergen might have seen little from Connection's collection of local players to significantly alter his team sheet for the country's next international friendly against Chile in March. But there was plenty evidence to suggest that Seabra deserves a new passport. If only for the way he warmed hearts at Marabella on the eve of Valentine's Day.