Brent Sam's late strike ensures Defence Force, Port of Spain share spoils in T&T derby

By Sports Desk September 29, 2023
Defence Force players celebrate the equalising goal. Defence Force players celebrate the equalising goal. Concacaf

Brent Sam scored deep into second half stoppage time to rescue a 1-1 draw for Defence Force against fellow Trinidad and Tobago side Port of Spain in Group A action on Thursday, at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

With the result, Port of Spain complete their campaign with one point, while Defence Force remain in third place in the group with five points.

The draw for Defence Force also means that Jamaican club and Group A leaders Cavalier FC have qualified for the semifinals.

There was no shortage of chances in the first half for either side, as they went back-and-forth in an exciting and wide-open affair.

Port of Spain looked set for an opener in the fifth with captain Duane Muckette bearing down on goal, but his effort was parried wide by Defence Force goalkeeper Christopher Biggette.

Defence Force looked to wrestle control away from Port of Spain in the second half and if not for a reaction save from Port of Spain goalkeeper Jadel Poon-Lewis, Nathaniel Garcia would have had the first goal of the match right before the hour mark.

But Port of Spain would muster the first goal in the 77th, when Michel Poon-Angeron stripped a Defence Force player of possession, played a quick one-two combination with Muckette and then finished into net for a 1-0 lead.

Defence Force pushed hard for a late 1-1 equalizer and hit paydirt in the 90+3 on a well-placed strike from Sam off a pass from Reon Moore to earn Defence Force a share of the spoils.

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