T&T's Police FC edge Ja's Arnett Gardens 2-1 to keep Caribbean Cup semis hopes alive

By Sports Desk September 20, 2024
Police and Arnett Gardens in action. Police and Arnett Gardens in action. Concacaf Media

Trinidad and Tobago’s Miscellaneous Police FC registered their first win of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup and kept their semi-final hopes alive after they bettered Jamaican outfit Arnett Gardens 2-1 in a lively Group A clash at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Thursday.

Joevin Jones (47th) and Ezekiel Kesar (84th) did the damage for Police FC, while Warner Brown (49th) got the ‘Junglists’ strike.

With the win, Police FC jumped to third on four points, the same as second-placed Haitian outfit Real Hope, but with a slightly inferior goal difference. Jamaica’s Cavalier remain atop on six points, while their compatriots Mount Pleasant FA (three points) and Arnett Gardens (zero point) complete the five-team standing.

With both teams coming off losses and hunting their first win, it was always expected to be an intriguing encounter, and fans that turned out at the venue were not disappointed.

Kimani Arbouine proved a menace for Arnett Gardens in the early exchanges as he unleashed a stinging 10th-minute effort that rocketed off the left upright.

Police also displayed their attacking prowess, led by veteran Kevon Woodley, who rose above defenders in the 32nd minute, but the lanky striker’s header came back off the crossbar.

Arbouine was at it again in the 36th minute as he sidewined his way into the danger area, but his well-struck effort failed to beat the right upright on this occasion as the score remained goalless at the break.

Police showed more purpose on the resumption and eventually broke the deadlock two minutes in when Jones fired home from just inside the arc as Richard White in goal for Arnett Gardens had no chance.

Brown pulled Arnett Gardens level seven minutes later with a calm right-footed finish, which left Police’s custodian Adrian Foncette flat-footed.