W
Connection’s Nickcolson Thomas, left, challenges
Joe Public’s Keyeno Thomas during the FCB Cup final
at the Mannie Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella on Friday night.
W Connection won the match on penalties 6-5 after the
score was locked at 2-2 at the end of regulations time.
PHOTO: ANTHONY HARRIS
BY
NIGEL SIMON
Still reeling from a 6-5 sudden-death penalty-kicks loss
to T&T Pro League rivals W Connection in the First
Citizens Cup Final on Friday last, bmobile Joe Public
will be hoping to pick up its first points against Atlante
when the Concacaf Champions League Group C matches continue
tonight.
Having also suffered defeats away to Montreal Impact (2-0)
and 3-1 at home to Olimpia on Honduras, the “Eastern
Lions” coached by Barbadian Keith Griffith, now find
themselves in a must-win match away to Mexico’s Atlante
at the Quintana Roo Stadium in Cancun from 9 pm.
As if its current cellar-place position is not a sign
of bother, Joe Public will go into the match without the
services of influential midfielder Arnold Dwarika who
was harshly red-carded in the previous match with less
than five minutes left in the game.
On the other-hand Atlante also should be boosted by the
return of defender Mario Hernandez who suffered a broken
nose in a match six weeks ago.
It is unclear if Hernandez will return to the backline
against Joe Public, but regardless, the defense will have
to stifle Joe Public’s Gregory Richardson.
Richardson scored his fifth goal of the tournament against
Olimpia, but also troubled Impact defenders and goalkeeper
Matt Jordan, who was largely credited with Montreal’s
victory over the T&T Pro League club.
A point from the match will keep the T&T club slim
chances of advancing to the quarterfinals alive, while
a defeat will surely put a serious dent on their ambitions.
Following tonight’s match, Joe Public will be back
in Concacaf Champions League action on October 8 when
it hosts Montreal Impact at the Hasely Crawford Stadium,
Mucurapo, from 8 pm in the second match of a double-header.
The T&T “Soca Warriors” will come up against
Dominican Republic in the opening match from 5 pm in preparation
for its Concacaf Second Round World Cup Qualifier away
to Guatemala three days later and at home against the
USA on October 15.
Joe Public will also entertain Atlante at the Marvin Lee
Stadium, Macoya, on October 21 before completing round-robin
play away to Olimpia in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on October
28.
In the other match in Group C, Montreal Impact was expected
to play Olimpia last night in Honduras.
