Army lose to Sando, TTPFL lead cut to one point

TT Premier Football League (TTPFL) holders Defence Force (46 points) saw their lead atop the 2025/26 standings cut to one point tonight, as they lost 2-1 to the second-placed Club Sando (45 points) at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Mucurapo. 

With a victory, the Army/Coast Guard combination would have lifted the TTPFL tier one trophy with two games to spare. However, coach Devorn Jorsling's team never really hit top gear against Sando, with their performance instead mirroring their display in a 1-0 loss to Miscellaneous Police FC on the weekend. 

Ultimately, two defensive blunders from two experienced heads proved to be Defence Force's demise on the night, as the pair of Isaiah Garcia and Sheldon Bateau were culpable for the goals conceded. Starting the game in an unfamiliar centre back role, Garcia cheaply gave away possession in the third minute, before compounding the matter by clumsily bringing down the speedy Tarik Lee in the penalty area. Sando central midfielder Luke Phillips, arguably the best player on the night, calmly placed his left-footed penalty past goalkeeper Isaiah Williams to give Sando the 1-0 lead. 

In the 29th minute, it was Lee's turn to profit from an error, as he picked off a loose clearance from Bateau, who tried to deal with a lofted ball from Sando skipper Shervohnez Hamilton. Lee made no mistake with the gift and easily shot the ball past Williams and into the bottom corner. 

Club Sando central midfielder Luke Phillips celebrates his team's opening goal against Defence Force on March 18. Photo courtesy Club Sando's Instagram page

Bateau's woes didn't end there, as the central defender was shown a straight red by referee Andrew Samuel in the 85th minute for a dangerous high challenge near the half-line. At that stage, it was all hands on deck for Defence Force, who had received a lifeline deep into first-half stoppage-time from attacker Kathon St Hillaire. 

With his team desperately looking for answers and some inspiration, St Hillaire poked past goalie Teshorne Ragoo from close range after midfielder Justin Sadoo picked him out with a pass which just eluded a lunging Elton John. It was one of the rare moments Defence Force got behind an otherwise stubborn Sando backline. 

The Army did have their chances to get an equaliser, particularly in the early stages of the second half, but St Hillaire, neither the playmaking pair of Joevin Jones and Kevin Molino could find the magic touch their team needed. At the other end, Williams was doing his best to keep his team in the match, as he palmed away a firm drive from Phillips, while also cutting out a dangerous, low cross from Hamilton. Before Bateau was sent for an early shower, he too played his part in keeping Sando at bay as he put in an acrobatic block to stop a volley from Hamilton in the 68th minute. 

Club Sando land a big TTPFL victory over Defence Force. 

With the ten-man Army knowing that a draw would keep them four points ahead of Sando, they threw bodies forward. In the seventh minute of second-half stoppage-time, a window of opportunity appeared to be opening for substitute Tyrese Bailey at the back stick, but the ever-present Phillips made a brilliant challenge before the former could get his shot away. 

In the first game of the Hasely Crawford double-header, Prisons FC (41 points) moved up to third on the 12-team table when they came from behind to beat San Juan Jabloteh (30 points) 2-1. 

On March 20, Defence Force will hope to put their untimely skid to bed when they play Eagles. Meanwhile, on March 21, Club Sando will tackle Caledonia AIA as they aim to keep their own title aspirations alive.