AKUDU GOODRIDGE had a hand in all three goals for Superstar Rangers as they eked out a hard-fought 3-2 victory over PLIPDECO Caroni in a rescheduled Sportworld Super League clash at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucu-rapo yesterday. With the result, Rangers moved their way to third place with 32 points, ahead of WASA Clean & White and Police on goal difference. Under persistent rainfall from start to finish, Rangers went ahead against the run of play, as Goodridge collected a deep ball from captain Colin Roberts in the 29th minute, rounded Caroni’s goalkeeper Curtis Granger and slotted the ball into the open net.
But Caroni fought back to equalise in the 43rd minute, as Kern Cupid got a return pass from Jason Cudjoe on the left flank and blasted his right-footed drive beyond the dive of Jason Bowen. The visitors got a deserved lead four minutes into the second half, as striker Jesse De Four capitalised on slack defending by Rafer Ross and fed Cudjoe, who rifled his shot home from 15 metres out. That goal seemed to spur Rangers into action and, after a prolonged series of attacks, levelled the scores in the 84th.
From a long ball, Goodridge beat Caroni’s offside trap and, after his shot was saved by Bowen, Josimar Belgrave collected the rebound and slotted the ball into the back of the net. Both teams fought valiantly for the winner, but Goodridge will prove decisive in the end. The strongly-built forward saw his header crashed off the crossbar in the 89th. But in the third minute of stoppage time, Roberts’ corner found Don Morris, who headed to the path of Goodridge, who tucked the ball home from close range. League action will continue on Wednesday.
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