SANDO CLOSE TO LAST FOUR

Club Sando moved to within one point of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semifinals with a confident 2-0 victory over Defence Force at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Luke Phillips opened the scoring in the 24th minute after Shevohnez Hamilton won possession and cut the ball back into his path. Phillips finished spectacularly into the roof of the net. Hamilton then doubled the lead in the 67th minute, securing Club Sando’s second straight win.

Defence Force threatened from wide areas and set pieces. Nicholas Dillon came closest to an equalizer in the 35th minute, when he headed Justin Sadoo’s cross narrowly wide. Club Sando nearly added a second before halftime, but goalkeeper Christopher Biggette made an outstanding save to deny Jaron Pascall’s looping header.

The result kept Club Sando unbeaten after two matches and level on six points with Haitian leaders Violette FC, although Violette lead on goal difference. Club Sando need only a point from their remaining home match against Delfines del Este on September 8 or their away game at Violette on September 15 to reach the semifinals.

Defence Force, meanwhile, lost for the second time after opening with a 3-0 defeat to Violette. The Army have one match left, away to Delfines del Este on September 15, and must win while relying on favorable results elsewhere to keep their hopes alive.