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Pro League teams match foreign invaders
Lasana Liburd
Sunday, December 2nd 2007
STAR POWER: Brazilian Denilson swings in a corner kick for Dallas FC in Friday night's Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup match against the Pro League Foreign All Stars at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Dallas won on kicks from the penalty spot after the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 at full time. The tournament continues this evening at the same venue. -Photo: CURTIS CHASEThe Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup is billed as a testimonial for Trinidad and Tobago's most successful goalkeeper, but it was always going to mean so much more for the T&T Pro League.
The domestic game still struggles with low attendances while the standard of its fare is also a hot topic. But Friday night's double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, featuring United States Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Dallas and Brazil's Atletico Paranaense, should prove a positive step.
The Pro League, represented by one team comprising its foreign players and another with strictly homegrown talent, matched strides with its guests and even led both fixtures before both falling by penalty kicks.
A total of 43 penalty kicks were taken on Friday, with 32 successful attempts. When the dust settled, FC Dallas edged the foreign-assembled Pro League outfit 7-6, while the local representatives lost 10-9 to Paranaense.
The 1,200-plus supporters who turned up would not feel cheated and the tournament organisers-the Pro League executive committee-expect a larger attendance for today's second and final Cup date.
Atletico Paranaense face the Pro League imports from 4 p.m. while the local Pro League side tackle FC Dallas from 6 p.m. at the same Port of Spain venue.
Hislop, once Britain's most expensive Premiership goalkeeper and a stand-out at the 2006 World Cup, makes his final bow this afternoon in a Dallas kit. There should be a presentation, too, for the London-born St Mary's College old boy who once earned a pick on the England national team under Glenn Hoddle but eventually chose Trinidad and Tobago colours instead.
Hislop was the most notable absentee from the playing field on Friday, although bmobile Joe Public withdrew their seven invited players, citing fatigue, while prolific CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh forward Peter Byers was on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda.
Denilson was there, though, and in the mood to delight.
The former Brazil World Cup winner, deployed in a roving position behind Dallas' two strikers, was predictably yards ahead of teammates and opponents alike with his early vision, technique and strength in possession-not to mention his step overs, feints and tricks.
Denilson did not score but he created Dallas' first goal with a burst through the centre and slip for giant striker Kenny Cooper to stab home. There were at least three sublime passes as well from the left footed Brazilian that his teammates could not capitalise on before he was replaced.
For all Denilson's endeavour, the Pro League foreigners were still ahead when he left, thanks to an early double from Dominican Republic and Vibe CT 105 W. Connection striker Jonathan Frias in the ninth and tenth minutes.
Twice, the diminutive Connection import capitalised on goalkeeping errors after young Dallas custodian Ray Burse Jnr failed to negotiate an inswinging corner from Brazilian Jose Seabra, another Connection employee, and then watch a speculative Frias drive skip off the ground and over his outstretched arm.
The Pro League side played the slick, counter-attack game favoured by their coach and Connection boss Stuart Charles-Fevrier, but Dallas gradually gained control and deservedly reduced the arrears through Cooper in the 38th minute.
Still, Fevrier's men were within seconds of a win when the otherwise flawless Guyana and Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA custodian Richard Reynolds flapped at a long ball and substitute Scott Jones scrambled an equaliser in the ensuing melee.
Reynolds tried to atone with three saves in the subsequent penalty shootout, but it was insufficient to deny Dallas.
The second match produced less open football but was thrilling in its own right. Competitive, fast and sometimes hard, the local Pro League team should have won in stoppage time but for a missed penalty by Defence Force striker Devon Jorsling.
Paranaense did not travel with their first team due to league commitments but a Brazilian team comprising professionals between the ages of 20 to 24 is not to be snuffed at. The Brazil youth team, after all, were finalists at the 2001 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Once more, the Pro League started brighter, with dreadlocked Caledonia AIA midfielder Marvin Oliver immediately seizing centre stage, while Defence Force defender Keston Williams and Connection midfielder Clyde Leon also acquitted themselves well.
But the Brazilians had the first good scoring chances and Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip pulled off two fine saves before Pro League and Jabloteh captain Trent Noel scored the latest in his line of memorable goals.
Noel finished expertly from the edge of the area in the 42nd minute after Connection striker Andre Toussaint spun one defender and laid the ball in his path.
Paranaense drew level, nine minutes after the interval, as midfielder Luiz Grando headed past Phillip off a Stanley Alfonso free kick and the visitors had the better of the second period as the hosts lost fluency following a rash of substitutions.
Still, the Pro League should have won in stoppage time when Jorsling failed to beat De Silva from the penalty spot. They were similarly luckless in the subsequent shootout, although it took 22 kicks to separate the teams.
The Pro League did not end with a tangible result but they were not overawed.
Denilson was inevitably the star attraction, though. Once the world's most expensive-not to mention exciting-player, he might have fallen off the global radar but his entertainment value remains undiminished.
As the stadium DJ blasted Jamaican hit "Take Way Yourself", the Brazilian broke out into a dance routine to loud cheers from the crowd before ending with a matador impression. Several opponents, coaches and at least one brave fan were blessed with photo opportunities too.
Local football enthusiasts can only hope for an encore from Denilson at the Hasely Crawford Stadium today.
T&T PRO LEAGUE TEAMS:
Foreign-20.Richard Reynolds; 3.Howard Lowe, 13.Charles Pollard, 5.Elijah Joseph, 6.Sheldon Emmanuel; 4.Christian Viveros (11.Collie Hercules 73); 7.Ronaldo Viana (12.Gerrard Williams 46), 8.Jose Seabra (19.Douglas Da Costa 80); 2.Dwight Peters (14.Christian Okonkwu 46), 9.Jonathan Frias (17.Nigel Codrington 60), 18.Randolph Jerome (15.Walter Moore 67)
Local-1.Marvin Phillip; 6.Cyd Gray, 3.Keston Williams, 4.Ian Gray, 5.Akeil Edwards (2.Corneal Thomas 71); 8.Clyde Leon (16.Keon Daniel 63); 17.Hayden Tinto (14.Kevon Carter 63), 7.Trent Noel (19.Josimar Belgrave 84), 10.Marvin Oliver; 9.Conrod Smith (11.Devon Jorsling 63), 15.Andre Toussaint (12.Richard Roy 66).
Lasana Liburd
Sunday, December 2nd 2007
STAR POWER: Brazilian Denilson swings in a corner kick for Dallas FC in Friday night's Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup match against the Pro League Foreign All Stars at the Hasely Crawford Stadium. Dallas won on kicks from the penalty spot after the teams were deadlocked at 2-2 at full time. The tournament continues this evening at the same venue. -Photo: CURTIS CHASEThe Shaka Hislop Tribute Cup is billed as a testimonial for Trinidad and Tobago's most successful goalkeeper, but it was always going to mean so much more for the T&T Pro League. The domestic game still struggles with low attendances while the standard of its fare is also a hot topic. But Friday night's double-header at the Hasely Crawford Stadium, featuring United States Major League Soccer (MLS) club FC Dallas and Brazil's Atletico Paranaense, should prove a positive step.
The Pro League, represented by one team comprising its foreign players and another with strictly homegrown talent, matched strides with its guests and even led both fixtures before both falling by penalty kicks.
A total of 43 penalty kicks were taken on Friday, with 32 successful attempts. When the dust settled, FC Dallas edged the foreign-assembled Pro League outfit 7-6, while the local representatives lost 10-9 to Paranaense.
The 1,200-plus supporters who turned up would not feel cheated and the tournament organisers-the Pro League executive committee-expect a larger attendance for today's second and final Cup date.
Atletico Paranaense face the Pro League imports from 4 p.m. while the local Pro League side tackle FC Dallas from 6 p.m. at the same Port of Spain venue.
Hislop, once Britain's most expensive Premiership goalkeeper and a stand-out at the 2006 World Cup, makes his final bow this afternoon in a Dallas kit. There should be a presentation, too, for the London-born St Mary's College old boy who once earned a pick on the England national team under Glenn Hoddle but eventually chose Trinidad and Tobago colours instead.
Hislop was the most notable absentee from the playing field on Friday, although bmobile Joe Public withdrew their seven invited players, citing fatigue, while prolific CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh forward Peter Byers was on international duty with Antigua and Barbuda.
Denilson was there, though, and in the mood to delight.
The former Brazil World Cup winner, deployed in a roving position behind Dallas' two strikers, was predictably yards ahead of teammates and opponents alike with his early vision, technique and strength in possession-not to mention his step overs, feints and tricks.
Denilson did not score but he created Dallas' first goal with a burst through the centre and slip for giant striker Kenny Cooper to stab home. There were at least three sublime passes as well from the left footed Brazilian that his teammates could not capitalise on before he was replaced.
For all Denilson's endeavour, the Pro League foreigners were still ahead when he left, thanks to an early double from Dominican Republic and Vibe CT 105 W. Connection striker Jonathan Frias in the ninth and tenth minutes.
Twice, the diminutive Connection import capitalised on goalkeeping errors after young Dallas custodian Ray Burse Jnr failed to negotiate an inswinging corner from Brazilian Jose Seabra, another Connection employee, and then watch a speculative Frias drive skip off the ground and over his outstretched arm.
The Pro League side played the slick, counter-attack game favoured by their coach and Connection boss Stuart Charles-Fevrier, but Dallas gradually gained control and deservedly reduced the arrears through Cooper in the 38th minute.
Still, Fevrier's men were within seconds of a win when the otherwise flawless Guyana and Neal & Massy Caledonia AIA custodian Richard Reynolds flapped at a long ball and substitute Scott Jones scrambled an equaliser in the ensuing melee.
Reynolds tried to atone with three saves in the subsequent penalty shootout, but it was insufficient to deny Dallas.
The second match produced less open football but was thrilling in its own right. Competitive, fast and sometimes hard, the local Pro League team should have won in stoppage time but for a missed penalty by Defence Force striker Devon Jorsling.
Paranaense did not travel with their first team due to league commitments but a Brazilian team comprising professionals between the ages of 20 to 24 is not to be snuffed at. The Brazil youth team, after all, were finalists at the 2001 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Once more, the Pro League started brighter, with dreadlocked Caledonia AIA midfielder Marvin Oliver immediately seizing centre stage, while Defence Force defender Keston Williams and Connection midfielder Clyde Leon also acquitted themselves well.
But the Brazilians had the first good scoring chances and Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip pulled off two fine saves before Pro League and Jabloteh captain Trent Noel scored the latest in his line of memorable goals.
Noel finished expertly from the edge of the area in the 42nd minute after Connection striker Andre Toussaint spun one defender and laid the ball in his path.
Paranaense drew level, nine minutes after the interval, as midfielder Luiz Grando headed past Phillip off a Stanley Alfonso free kick and the visitors had the better of the second period as the hosts lost fluency following a rash of substitutions.
Still, the Pro League should have won in stoppage time when Jorsling failed to beat De Silva from the penalty spot. They were similarly luckless in the subsequent shootout, although it took 22 kicks to separate the teams.
The Pro League did not end with a tangible result but they were not overawed.
Denilson was inevitably the star attraction, though. Once the world's most expensive-not to mention exciting-player, he might have fallen off the global radar but his entertainment value remains undiminished.
As the stadium DJ blasted Jamaican hit "Take Way Yourself", the Brazilian broke out into a dance routine to loud cheers from the crowd before ending with a matador impression. Several opponents, coaches and at least one brave fan were blessed with photo opportunities too.
Local football enthusiasts can only hope for an encore from Denilson at the Hasely Crawford Stadium today.
T&T PRO LEAGUE TEAMS:
Foreign-20.Richard Reynolds; 3.Howard Lowe, 13.Charles Pollard, 5.Elijah Joseph, 6.Sheldon Emmanuel; 4.Christian Viveros (11.Collie Hercules 73); 7.Ronaldo Viana (12.Gerrard Williams 46), 8.Jose Seabra (19.Douglas Da Costa 80); 2.Dwight Peters (14.Christian Okonkwu 46), 9.Jonathan Frias (17.Nigel Codrington 60), 18.Randolph Jerome (15.Walter Moore 67)
Local-1.Marvin Phillip; 6.Cyd Gray, 3.Keston Williams, 4.Ian Gray, 5.Akeil Edwards (2.Corneal Thomas 71); 8.Clyde Leon (16.Keon Daniel 63); 17.Hayden Tinto (14.Kevon Carter 63), 7.Trent Noel (19.Josimar Belgrave 84), 10.Marvin Oliver; 9.Conrod Smith (11.Devon Jorsling 63), 15.Andre Toussaint (12.Richard Roy 66).