Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC produced a gritty performance to better Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain in a come-from-behind 3-2 win that secured their spot in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-finals.

A brace from Rivaldo Correa (75th and 89th) and the other from Jean Lopez (63rd) handed Cibao FC the crucial win after Shackiel Smek Henry (38th) and Jameel Neptune (40th) put AC Port of Spain in front at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Meanwhile, Joseph Willinx (45th and 69th) got a brace for Ouanaminthe and Quinton Griffith (20th) and Malcolm Stewart (89th) scored for Grenades FC as both teams played out a 2-2 stalemate in Dominican Republic also on Tuesday.

The win propelled Cibao to seven points, same as their compatriots Moca FC, who are also through to the semi-finals, while Antigua’s Grenades FC (two points), AC Port of Spain (two points), and Haiti’s Ouanaminthe (two points) complete Group B.

It was an aggressive start by AC Port of Spain, who wasted little time to make their intentions known and eventually took the lead in the 38th when Henry headed home from Neptune’s weighted cross to take his tournament tally to three goals.

Neptune added his name to the score sheet two minutes later with an acrobatic finish from deep inside the 18-yard box to put AC Port of Spain 2-0 up at the break.

However, the second half belonged to Cibao as Herold Charles entered the contest in the 53rd and injected tempo into their attack to inspire the comeback. His first served up a weighted cross for Lopez to lash home in the 63rd.

Charles provided another weighted cross in the 75th, this time for Correa to finish and pull Cibao level.

Correa and Charles also connected on the winning goal as the former got on the end of a decent through pass and slotted home on the stroke of full time.

With AC Port of Spain and the others now out of contention, Cibao’s and Moca’s final group fixtures against Ouanaminthe and Grenades, respectively, will be of academic interest on October 1.

Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA and Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain and Police FC are among teams that will be hoping to position themselves for a semi-final berth as the Concacaf Caribbean Cup continues on Tuesday.

Two Group B encounters will get the week’s action under way, with Haiti’s Ouanaminthe set to host Antigua’s Grenades in the Dominican Republic, while AC Port of Spain welcomes the other Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC.

Meanwhile, the Group A contests between another Haitian club Real Hope and Arnett Gardens are set for Wednesday, with Police FC and Mount Pleasant set to rub shoulders on Thursday.

Ouanaminthe FC vs. Grenades FC

With both teams having only secured a point from their first two games, this contest represents an opportunity for either to move closer to the leaders, provided they execute efficiently to snare all three points.

Grenades FC and Ouanaminthe FC currently sit fourth and fifth with a point each, as Dominican Republic’s Moca FC comfortably occupies pole position on seven points ahead of Cibao (four points) and Port of Spain (two points).

Fredelin Philistin, who scored in Ouanaminthe’s 1-3 loss to Moca last Wednesday, will be key to their chances of securing their first win on this occasion.

The same is true about Sean Tomlinson, who notched a late equaliser for Grenades FC against Port of Spain on last.

Anything but a win for either team will bury their chances of progressing any further in the tournament.

AC Port of Spain vs. Cibao FC

With two points from three games, AC Port of Spain will enter this, their final group stage fixture against Cibao FC, also knowing that anything but a win will see them falling short of the semi-final.

Still, a win at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, doesn’t necessarily guarantee AC Port of Spain a semi-final spot, but it would provisionally push them into second above Cibao. From there, the Twin Island Republic’s representatives would then have to hope a result between Ouanaminthe and Cibao, on October 1 falls in their favour.

Shackiel Smek and John Paul Rochford will be the point men for AC Port of Spain.

Meanwhile, for Cibao FC, a win or a draw would not only extend their unbeaten run but also ensure they remain in a favourable position for a semi-final appearance.

Jean Lopez and Eddipo Rodriguez are expected to cause trouble for AC Port of Spain’s backline.

Real Hope FA vs. Arnett Gardens FC

Group A also remains in the balance, as Cavalier remain tops on six points ahead of Real Hope FA and Police FC on four points each. Mount Pleasant is also in striking distance on three points, while Arnett Gardens is without a point, but can turn their chances around with a win at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Real Hope will enter the contest with their tails high having clipped Cavalier 2-1 last week, and knowing that another win would propel them to the top of the standing with one game still to come against Mount Pleasant on October 3.

The Haitian club will look to Rikanel Chery and Steeve Mondestin to lead their charge.

Despite their current situation, Arnett Gardens, the reigning Caribbean Shield champions, are no pushovers and head coach Xavier Gilbert will be hoping they can stamp their class in this contest to gradually revive their chances of progressing further.

Shai Smith, Warner Brown and others will be hoping to get some goals under their belts should goal-difference come into play, as the game will serve as Real Hope’s home fixture.

Miscellaneous Police FC vs. Mount Pleasant FA

Police FC will welcome the fact that their final group stage fixture will be at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Thursday. However, the fact that they will be up against a highly-motivated Mount Pleasant team doesn’t allow much room for comfort.

But having edged one Jamaican club in Arnett Gardens 2-1 last week, Police will be backing their quality to down another, which would keep them in contention for a semi-final berth while slightly a draw or a loss could spell trouble for their chances.

Ezekiel Kesar will be their point man in attack.

A win for Mount Pleasant would also keep them in the running for a semi-final berth with a game in hand, but unlike their previous games, they will need to be at their best and capitalise on their chances to stay alive.

Jashaun Anglin and Kimoni Bailey are just two players to look out for in a deep squad that possesses immense quality.

Antiguan outfit Grenades FC secured their first point of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup as they came from behind to hold AC Port of Spain to a 1-1 stalemate in a lukewarm Group B contest at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Tuesday.

Shackiel Smek Henry (21st) put AC Port of Spain in front, but that strike was cancelled out by Sean Tomlinson (90+5), who ensured Grenades FC registered their first point of the campaign.

AC Port of Spain remain third on two points behind the Dominican Republic duo of Moca FC and Cibao FC, both on four points each. Haiti’s Ouanaminthe sit fourth on a point, while Grenades remain at the foot of the five-team standings.

With both teams coming of losses in their previous encounters, it was anybody’s guess where the points would go. However, AC Port of Spain being the more illustrious of the two, coupled with the fact that they were at home, was slightly favoured to notch their first win of the campaign.

They seemed well on their way to achieving that feat when Henry pounced on a loose ball and fired home from close range.

Though they were forced into substituting goalkeeper Denzil Smith, who was replaced by Marvin Phillip, AC Port of Spain were still in safe hands. This, as Phillip immediately impacted the contest when he denied Quinton Griffith from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.

Duane Muckette should have doubled AC Port of Spain’s lead from the penalty spot on the hour mark, but his tame kick was kept out by Zaieem Scott in goal for Grenades FC.

That missed opportunity would later haunt them as Tomlinson injected tempo in the latter staged of the contest for Grenades. He should have pulled them level in the 85th, but muffed his effort in a one-on-one situation with Phillip, who left his line well.

However, Tomlinson made amends on the final play of the encounter as he expertly headed home Keanu Barrett’s weighted cross, giving Phillip no chance at a save in time added.

With the point set to serve as a morale booster, Grenades will be hoping to convert it to a win when they square off against Ouanaminthe FC in Dominican Republic next Tuesday, while AC Port of Spain will host Cibao FC on the same day.

It was a successful return to Mount Pleasant FA for head coach Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore as the St Ann-based club kept their Concacaf Caribbean Cup hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Arnett Gardens FC in a keenly contested encounter at Sabina Park on Tuesday.

Jashaun Anglin (33^rd) and Kimoni Bailey (82^nd) fired Mount Pleasant to three valuable points as they bounced back from an opening 0-2 defeat to reining Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions Cavalier and, by extension, the dismissal of then coach Harold Thomas.

Shai Smith’s 54^th-minute strike kept things interesting for CFU Club Shield winners Arnett Gardens, who will now have to pick up the pieces and come again.

With the win, Mount Pleasant jumped to second on three points, behind Cavalier, while Arnett Gardens sit bottom without a point.

For Whitmore, the result served as a statement of the quality that Mount Pleasant possesses both on and off the field.

“After coming off a loss, for us these three points mean a lot to the club, it means a lot to the players, and we just have to keep working and keep improving,” Whitmore said in a post-game conference.

“We didn’t want to find any excuses. We asked the boys one thing, and that was to give of their best, give 110 percent, and they went out and left it on the pitch. The aim is always to make a statement, and that’s what we did today (Tuesday),” he added.

After a tentative start, both teams gradually got into their stride, but it was Mount Pleasant that grabbed the ascendancy when Anglin expertly headed home from Daniel Green’s weighted cross.

Mount Pleasant rode the momentum in their probe to extend the lead, which they almost did on two occasions in the latter stages of the first half, but for Asher Hutchinson in goal for Arnett Gardens.

Hutchinson first came up big to deny Jean Ferreira’s close range effort in the 44^th, and then Shaqueil Bradford in the 45+2 to ensure his team remained in the contest at the break.

Moca FC in action against AC Port of Spain.

Arnett Gardens showed more attacking fight on the resumption and pulled level nine minutes in when the lanky Smith rose above defenders to head home Kimani Arbouine’s cross.

Now pumped, the ‘Junglists’ pushed for the go-ahead goal, which they would have had in the 58^th if Fabian Reid’s effort dipped below the crossbar.

Mount Pleasant also rued their luck for a minute as Nicholas Nelson’s 76^th-minute shot at the other end also came off the crossbar.

However, their disappointment turned to celebrations six minutes later when Bailey displayed nippy footwork to dismiss defenders in a dazzling solo effort, which he ended with a tidy finish beyond the hapless Hutchinson to seal Mount Pleasant’s win.

Whitmore’s side will next visit Trinidad and Tobago’s Miscellaneous Police FC in Couva, on September 26, while Xavier Gilbert and his Arnett Gardens team will hope for better fortunes also against Police FC, whom they will visit on September 19.

“It is just unfortunate we are on the losing end, but it is just the first game. We are still in it. It might set us back in terms of points on the board, and we are probably at the bottom of the table. But we are going to give it a shot. We have multiple games,” Gilbert noted.

Meanwhile, in Group B action, Dominican Republic’s Moca FC produced a decent second-half display to edge Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain 3-2 at Estadio Moca 85.

John Paul Rochford’s brace (41^st and 49^th) for AC Port of Spain proved in vain as Alan Aciar (51^st), Gustavo Ascona (62^nd), and Clifford Thomas (90+1) brought Moca FC from behind to secure all three points.

The win pushed Moca FC to the top of the standings on four points, while AC Port of Spain remained on one point.

Moca will seek to extend their unbeaten run when they host Ouanaminthe FC on September 18, while AC Port of Spain’s next challenge will come against Grenades FC on September 17 in Couva.

After a topsy-turvy week in which they lost their opening Concacaf Caribbean Cup encounter, sacked Harold Thomas, and brought back Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, Mount Pleasant FA will be hoping to ride a more positive wave when they engage Arnett Gardens on Tuesday.

While it will be Mount Pleasant’s second Group A outing, having lost 0-2 to reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions Cavalier last week, Arnett Gardens will be wetting their feet in the tournament for the first time since winning the Caribbean Club Shield, and they will be intent on maintaining their rich vein of form.

Sabina Park should be abuzz for the 5:00pm encounter, which has mouth-watering prospects, as Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant have met several times in the JPL with both teams securing six wins apiece while drawing another five. However, this will be their first ever meeting in this tournament.

With both teams hunting their first point to stay in touch with group leaders Cavalier (three points), as well as Trinidad and Tobago’s Police FC and Haiti’s Real Hope on a point each, it is anybody’s guess where the points will go, if not being shared.

Though targeting victory on return to the St Ann-based club, Whitmore is by no means grandstanding against a high-riding Arnett Gardens.

“Arnett Gardens are just coming out of a tournament, which they won. So they will be upbeat. Our players know the task at hand. They know it’s going to be a difficult game, but I think this unit is up for it,” Whitmore said in a pre-game conference.

“It’s for us to put ourselves out there and give 110 percent. But there is one other thing, and that is to get a positive result. We have not spent a lot of time with the players, so we are still trying to put the pieces together. Hopefully, come match day, we will be ready,” he added.

For Arnett Gardens Head coach Xavier Gilbert, this encounter represents the start of their quest to cop a coveted double-title feat, much like last year’s winners, SV Robinhood of Suriname.

“It would be nice to win the double, but we just want to take it one step at a time and not think too far ahead. This first game is going to be extremely tough because Mount Pleasant are coming off a loss, and I am sure they will want to ensure that they stay in the hunt,” Gilbert stated.

“They are a quality team, and they have acquired some good players, so it is going to be tough, but we are going to put our best foot forward and ensure that we get something out of the game. We anticipate that Whitmore, who coached them last year, knows the players well, and he will probably put the pieces together despite not having a lot of time,” he noted.

Elsewhere in Group B on Tuesday, Dominican Republic’s Moca FC will host Trinidad and Tobago's AC Port of Spain at the Estadio Moca 85.

Both are on a point each, same as another Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC, who will also host Antigua and Barbuda club Grenades FC at the Estadio Cibao.

Grenades FC, who were runners-up to Arnett Gardens in the CFU Club Shield, will be out for the first time in this tournament.

Meanwhile, Group A leaders Cavalier will be back in action on Thursday against Police FC at Sabina Park.

Reigning Jamaica Premier League champions Mount Pleasant FA and Cavalier FC have booked spots in this year’s Concacaf Caribbean Cup where they will again challenge for a berth in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup.

By virtue of setting up a repeat of last year’s final, Mount Pleasant, hunting their second local top-flight title, and Cavalier, seeking redemption from last season’s defeat, joined three other clubs from Dominican Republic and Trinidad and Tobago as early confirmations.

This will be Mount Pleasant’s debut in the Caribbean Cup and first appearance in a Concacaf tournament, while Cavalier makes a return after an unbeaten run in the group stage, before finishing as runner-up to Suriname’s Robinhood FC. It also and earned them a debut appearance in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

From Dominican Republic, Cibao FC, will make its second appearance in the Caribbean Cup as the 2023 league champion from the Dominican Republic. Cibao has become a regular to Concacaf competitions, appearing in the 2018 Champions League and the 2020 and 2022 Concacaf League.

Based in Santiago de los Caballeros, Cibao became the first team in the history of the Dominican Republic to secure an official international title when they won the 2017 Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship.

Meanwhile, Moca FC, also out of Dominican Republic, returns for a second crack at the Caribbean Cup due to their standing in the 2023 season. Moca reached the semifinals in the previous edition and won the third-place match to qualify for the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup, making its debut earlier this year. Gustavo Ascona is the club’s all-time leader with four goals in the competition.

Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain will make a second appearance in the Caribbean Cup. The club will be aiming to achieved new milestones by getting their first win in the tournament and, by extension, secure a first Concacaf Champions Cup participation.

The remaining clubs in the annual 10-team tournament –that crowns a Caribbean champion and determine participants from the region for the Concacaf Champions Cup –will be determined as their respective nations wrap up their domestic seasons.

A draw will be held on June 6 to divide the teams into two groups of five.