TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) runners-up AC Port of Spain suffered their second loss in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup on Thursday night, as they were beaten 2-1 by Jamaica's Cavalier FC at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.
AC PoS, who have two remaining Group A matches against Martinique's Golden Lion FC and fellow TTFPL club Defence Force, sit bottom of the five-team group without a point to their name and face a tough task to advance to the semifinals.
AC PoS went behind after just eight minutes in Kingston, as Jalmaro Calvin beat Soca Warriors goal-keeper Marvin Phillip with a close-range strike after getting behind AC PoS right back Malik Mieres with consummate ease. Cavalier's early goal allowed them to sit deep and play on the counter-attack, where their pace up front always posed a threat to the AC PoS defenders.
Still, the visitors fashioned a few presentable chances in the first half, as flanker Jameel Neptune and new signing Tyrone Charles both spurned glorious opportunities. Meantime, midfielder John-Paul Rochford saw a curling long-range effort tipped wide by Cavalier custodian Vino Barclett in the 26th minute.
The 34 year-old Charles was included in coach Angus Eve's 40-man provisional squad for TT's upcoming Concacaf Nations League matches vs Curacao and El Salvador on September 7 and 10 respectively. He should have brought AC PoS level before the break but shot wildly over bar after a nice exchange of passes outside the area. He was also denied at point-blank range by Barclett in first half stoppage-time after being found by a sweet Che Benny pass.
On the hour mark, AC PoS were punished for their missed chances as Cavalier's Christopher Ainsworth finished past Phillip with a cheeky dink following a rapid counter. Ainsworth, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Thursday, finished off the move with the experience of a veteran as he sullied AC PoS' own Independence night celebrations.
In the 71st minute, AC PoS finally got a goal to show for their efforts – their first in the tournament – when captain Duane Muckette buried a glancing header from a deep Rochford free kick.
AC PoS pushed desperately for an equalising goal, as they packed the Cavalier penalty area and put in endless crosses. With as many as ten minutes being played in second half stoppage-time due to lengthy injury delays, Barclett denied the visitors an equaliser on the stroke of full time as he acrobatically stopped a firm effort by AC PoS defender Robert Primus.
With back-to-back losses kickstarting their Caribbean Cup campaign, AC PoS will need maximum points when they meet Golden Lion (September 20) and Defence Force (September 28) if they are to have any chance of progressing to the semis. Both Defence Force and Cavalier have picked up four points from their two matches, with the Jamaican club leading the group on goal difference.
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