For the second time in a fortnight, Trinidad and Tobago men's under-20 football captain Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia netted a hat-trick at the Phase 2 La Horquetta recreation ground to lead his San Juan Jabloteh team to victory in the TT Premier Football League (TTPFL).
On March 6, Garcia opened his account for the season with a treble in a 5-0 win over 1976 FC Phoenix. Last night, the 19-year-old Garcia was at it again, as he netted a 14-minute hat-trick in the second half and took advantage of some calamitous defending by AC Port of Spain. The scores were tied at 1-1 at the half, with Garcia's second-half burst helping the sixth-placed Jabloteh (33 points) to a facile 4-1 win over the fifth-placed AC PoS (37 points).
Funny enough, Garcia was involved in all five goals in the match, as both teams showed a fair level of generosity. In the fifth minute, it was a loose touch from Garcia, which led to the opener for AC PoS, as the youngster cheaply gave away possession in his own half with a heavy first touch. AC PoS worked the ball out right before midfielder Anthony Charles dug out a cross from the byline for flanker Josiah Wilson to slap in at the back stick.
Just three minutes later, Jabloteh were back on level terms as Andell Fraser cut in on his right foot just inside the area to unleash a devious shot into the top corner and past Marvin Phillip after being picked out by Garcia.
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| San Juan Jabloteh's Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia (left) gives AC Port of Spain's Josiah Wilson the slip during a TTPFL match last season. Photo courtesy TTPFL |
Not taking anything away from Garcia's hat-trick, but it's unlikely that he'll score three easier goals for the length of his TTPFL career. For his sake, hopefully, the TTPFL is a stepping stone for bigger things.
Garcia's first came in the 64th minute as AC PoS central defender Robert Primus played a needless pass into his own box after cutting out a run from winger Jaheim Faustin. Garcia took some time to size up Phillip before passing a right footer a few inches to the keeper's left.
If the first AC PoS mistake wasn't enough, Charles laid the ball on a platter for Garcia in the 76th minute as he tried to find a teammate with a blind back pass. The goal could be deemed as a breakdown in structure and communication from AC PoS, as left back Jelani Peters and the left centre back Primus were both pushed up in the opposition's half for a right-side throw. With Charles being pressed inside the opposition half, he played a pass where he expected a teammate to be. With the other centre back, Daneil Cyrus, also a couple of steps into the Jabloteh half, Charles' pass turned out to be perfect for Garcia, who slotted away to Phillip's right this time.
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| Derrel "Zum Zum" Garcia (left) is congratulated by national under-20 teammate Phillip Nelson during a friendly earlier this year. Photo courtesy TTFA |
Garcia's hat-trick came in the 78th minute, and on this occasion, he was assisted by somebody in green, Caden Trestrail. Again, AC PoS kept a relatively high line, which Trestrail and Garcia exploited as the latter rounded Phillip to slide into the net and put the exclamation point on the result.
From 8 pm today, the second-placed Club Sando (45 points) can stall Defence Force's possible victory lap for another match day if they defeat Caledonia AIA in their matchup at the Ato Boldon Stadium, Couva. The Army/Coast Guard combination lead the 12-team table with 49 points and have the solitary match left in the league season. Meanwhile, Sando have two matches left and can enter the final match day with their title aspirations still intact if they can get a win over the ninth-placed "Cale."
Should Sando taste defeat today, the Army will be crowned TTPFL tier one champions for the third time in four seasons.
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