Three-way tie atop CIFA Premier League

Roma Utd and Latinos FC failed to separate from each other as Scholars also pulled level on points.

Latinos FC and Roma United split the points in their clash on 14 January, while Scholars International hammered George Town to see the weekend end with all three teams on 16 points atop the standings of the CIFA Premier League.

 

Roma United 2, Latinos FC 2

At the Annex, Ziecko Herrera converted a penalty kick seconds before the final whistle to bring Latinos FC level with Roma United on two goals apiece. The penalty was given when Naresh Hart was blown for pushing the attacker in the box with his side clinging to a 2-1 lead with the three minutes of added time coming to an end.

It was Roma who led at the half when Ceasar Escoto Puerto knocked a rebound past goalkeeper Joel Diaz Matute in the 22nd minute. Roma continued to dominate the possession, controlling the ball with crisp passing in the midfield.

Roma opened the second half pressing for more but Latinos fought hard for the equaliser. In the 60th minute, the game was levelled when Herrera blasted a free kick from just outside the 18-yard box past Shakur Welcome in the Roma United net.

At this stage it was game on. The 72-degree, cool and breezy weather was in sharp contrast to the heat the players brought on the pitch. In the 70th, a scramble in front the Latinos goal ended with defender Marvel Moore Hyde getting his body in the way to clear the ball off the line.

With less than half an hour to go, it was “game on”. Kimani Finn streaked forward to finish a Roma United attack with the go-ahead goal in the 77th, 21minutes after entering the game.

Three minutes were left on the clock when Roma captain Gawayne Speed picked up his second yellow card for handling the ball as he went to the ground. It was now up to his teammates to hold on or for Latinos to use the man-advantage to their benefit.

Roma held on for dear life, knowing they were only a few ticks on the clock and sole possession of the top spot in the league table. But a highly-disputed penalty in favour of Latinos gave the chance to Herrera to save the day with his second goal of the night.

The result snapped a five-game winning streak for Latinos to start the season but they remain unbeaten through six games. Roma has played one more game and have a record of 5-1-1 with both sides ending the night on 16 points. (See table below)

 

Scholars International 5, George Town SC 0

At the same time at Ed Bush Sports Complex, Scholars walked away with a convincing 5-0 win over George Town Sports Club to add some company to the top of the table. Brandon Ebanks (13’), Rolly Bodden (24’) and Jorge Murillo (33’) found the back of the net to give Scholars International a 3-0 halftime lead.

Rodrick Pearson joined in the scoring in the 62nd minute before Ebanks secured his brace 13 minutes before the end to complete a 5-0 trouncing of George Town to take three points and move up from third to the top of the table.

Scholars and Latinos are now the only teams to have not tasted defeat during the 2017/18 campaign.

 

Academy SC 0, Elite SC 4

Christopher Reeves (7) had a super performance for Elite.

Christopher Reeves tormented Academy SC defenders en route to a hat-trick with goals coming in the 15th, 71st and 75th minutes. Sharkur Silburn (51’) also scored as Elite handed fourth-placed Academy their first loss of the season in the early game on Sunday at the Annex.

Academy were without star midfielder Jonah Ebanks, who was nursing a hamstring injury he picked up while attending the MLS Caribbean Combine in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida last week. Solid team defending Elite made life difficult for last season’s First Division leading goal-scorer Mark Ebanks, who was unable to get put the pressure on the net that he’s accustomed to.

 

Tigers FC 2, North Side SC 1

Tigers FC came from behind to pick up their first win of the season at the Annex on Saturday. Horace Howell put North Side in the lead 10 minutes from the opening whistle but Kank Bennett pulled Tigers level in the 35th minute. Jamaar Frederick provided the eventual winner three minutes after play resumed.

 

Sunset FC 2, Future SC 1

Sunset FC moved up into the top half of the table with their third win of the season. After a scoreless first half, Michael Johnson put Future out front four minutes after play resumed before Sunset’s Paul Hennessy pulled his side level two minutes later. An own goal by Courtney Duval in the 77th minute spelled doom for Future as Sunset walked away with the win.

 

Cayman Athletic 5, Cayman Brac FC 1

David Connolly (4’), Almando Forrester (18’, 50’) and Martin Webb (79’, 90+) all found the back of the net for Cayman Athletic at Ed Bush Sports Complex Saturday night. Although the finishing was not as clinical as their coaches would have liked, it was enough to secure the result with Cayman Brac’s lone goal coming from Tomas Jackson-Dilbert in the 42nd minute.

Cayman Athletic picked up their third win of the season from five games to go along with a draw and a loss, while Cayman Brac have lost all five of their outings this season.

 

 

Unofficial CIFA Premier League standings as of 15 Jan. 18

TEAM

P

W D L GF GA GD

PTS

1 Scholars Int’l

6

5 1 0 22

4

18

16

2 Latinos FC

6

5 1 0 22

7

15

16

3 Roma United

7

5 1 1 17

5

12

16

4 Academy SC

5

4 0 1 19

9

10

12

5 Elite SC

7

3 2 2 12

7

5

11

6 Cayman Athletic

5

3 1 1 15

6

9

10

7 Sunset FC

5

3 0 2 7 6 1

9

8 Future SC

8

2 2 4 7 19 -12

8

9 George Town SC

8

2 1 5 14 18 -4

7

10 Bodden Town FC

3

2 0 1 6 3 3

6

11 North Side SC

7

1 2 4 7 12 -5

5

12 Tigers FC

6

1 1 4 9 21 -12

4

13 Cayman Brac FC

5

0 0 5 2 19 -14

0

14 East End SC

6

0 0 6 4 27 -23

0

 

Defending champions Bodden Town FC play an exhibition against the National U20 Men’s Team 7:30 p.m. Wednesday night at the Annex.

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