Defence Force Elite succumbs to 2nd defeat 2-1
2026-03-20 - 01:13
It’s now a race to the finish in Tier 1 of the T&T Premier Football League with only two rounds of matches remaining. Defending champions Defence Force’s once-smooth sail toward a title defence was interrupted by a 2-1 loss to Club Sando FC on Wednesday night at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo, Port-of-Spain. It was only the second defeat for the army/coast guard/civilian combination team in 56 matches. More importantly, the result has blown the title race wide open. The Southerners (45 points) and Defence Force (46 points) are now separated by just a point, while third-place Miscellaneous Police on 39 points still hold a mathematical chance of upsetting the applecart. In Mucurapo, Defence Force, who also lost 1-0 to Police on Sunday at the Larry Gomes Stadium in Malabar, Arima, were expected to bounce back with a victory and open up an unassailable lead that would have assured them the crown. However, fortune did not follow them. The Southerners drew first blood when Luke Phillips fired Club Sando ahead from the penalty spot in only the fourth minute. Defence Force coach Devorn Jorsling had expressed confidence that his team would seal the crown on Wednesday with a victory. Instead, Angus Eve’s men doubled their advantage in the 29th minute courtesy of a Tarik Lee item. Defence Force pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time through Kathon St Hillaire; however, neither team could find the net in the second half. The result gave Club Sando three vital points and the belief that they can secure the title for the first time. Defence Force will seek redemption today at the Phase II Recreation Ground, La Horquetta, Arima, when they face FC Eagles at 6 pm. That encounter will be followed by AC Port-of-Spain versus San Juan Jabloteh at 8 pm. With 34 and 30 points respectively, neither team can win the title, and both are unlikely to contend for a place in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup, which will go toward the top two teams in the League or the Concacaf Caribbean Shield, which will be awarded to the team that finishes third in the league this season. Club Sando will spring into action again Saturday night with a clash against Caledonia AIA from 8 pm at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Balmain, Couva, while Point Fortin Civic and Terminex La Horquetta Rangers will square off in the other match of the doubleheader at 6 pm. Wednesday’s results Club Sando FC 2 (Luke Phillips 4th, Tarik Lee 29th) vs Defence Force 1 (Kathon St Hillaire 45+5) Centraol FC Reboot 2 (Jameel Neptune 26th, Malachi Celestine 71st) vs La Horquetta Rangers 1 (Kevon Woodley 4th) Prison Services FC 2 (Brendon Figuera 66th, Kyron Williams 70th) vs San Juanj Jabloteh 1 (Caden Trestrail 3rd) Latest standings Pos*Teams*P*W*L*D*GF*GA*GD*Pts 1*Defence Force*20*14*2*4*50*19*31*46 2*Club Sando FC*20*15*5*0*46*13*33*45 3*Prisons Service FC*20*13*5*2*36*22*14*41 4*Miscellaneous Police FC*19*12*4*3*38*16*22*39 5*AC PoS*19*10*5*4*35*25*10*34 6*San Juan Jabloteh*20*9*8*3*39*36*30 7*Central FC Reboot*20*8*9*3*32*44*-12*27 8*1976 FC Phoenix*19*6*13*0*27*48*-21*18 9*Caledonia AIA*19*5*13*1*30*38*-8*16 10*FC Eagles*19*5*13*1*31*43*-12*16 11*TLH Rangers*20*4*13*3*19*51*-32*15 12*Point Fortin Civic*19*3*14*2*17*44*-27*11