Defence Force vs Cibao FC ｜ 2025 Concacaf Caribbean Cup ｜ Third Place
We have reached the business end of the 2025
CONCACAF Caribbean Cup.
It is the third place match, first leg
between Defense Force of Trinidad and Tobago and Cibao.
It is Cibao FC of Dominican Republic
and Defense Force FC of Trinidad and Tobago.
Away we go.
The corner through the range, drops the header.
There it is!
Three minutes in, Sheldon Bateau puts Defense Force on top.
A lot of players looking around for Cibao,
wondering where the support was.
And just like that, Defense Force takes the early lead.
And the service for Cibao looking to equalize off the corner.
The header saved by Williams.
So a corner for a goal on the other end for Defense Force.
Murillo looking long on the diagonal.
Got it down by Ventura on the volley, saved by Williams.
He caught it cleanly, Rivaldo Correa.
But Isaiah Williams, the 22-year-old goalkeeper, springs into action.
Bounces through, flag stays down.
Shaquille Bertrand cutting back.
Shaquille Bertrand saved by Miguel Lloyd.
Oh, what a golden moment for Defense Force
to have taken a more commanding 2-0 lead early in this first leg.
Just a bit of fortune there as it bounces off of Mosqueda to Bertrand.
Worked through by Molino, flag stays down, and it's shanked in the end by Bertrand.
He slipped, it looked like, on his plant foot.
But that's two great looks in the last two minutes
for Bertrand to have made this 2-0.
A lot of contact there at the end line.
Ball stayed in play.
There's the contact.
It doesn't matter that he's beyond the end line.
Kevin Molino scores this time, and Defense Force leads 2-0.
Some sort of answer, now down 2-0 from the free kick.
That's not going to do it.
Referees say play on.
It's a quick transition the other way.
Flag stayed down.
Chance here, save Lloyd.
And the whistle goes down to end the half.
What a way to end the first half.
135 minutes to go in this third place tie.
Javier Rosas stands over it, four in the wall.
Poised to strike.
Javier Rosas, saved by Williams.
...for Defense Force from the free kick.
They'll have a corner.
No, a goal kick.
Wow, seems certain that that came off of Saval.
We'll see if we get a second look.
2-0, it's still very much within touching distance.
Three feels different.
Let's see.
Over the top, flag stays down for now.
In behind, the substitute, Perez, had his pocket picked.
Good hustle defensively from Isaiah Garcia,
who's already on a yellow,
and had to be supremely careful, two-fold,
not to concede the penalty
and not to pick up a second yellow.
Reyes, Bertrand wins it.
Bertrand tries to get around the keeper,
and it's won back by Reyes.
Whistle goes against Defense Force.
Playing with fire, Saval.
It's Force, much tighter.
Universidad, two to one over Saval.
Swung in, there's the header off-frame.
It's what you're hoping for, an open look,
but gone by the wayside for Saval
as time slips through the hourglass.
Molino, looking through,
said Javier, in behind!
There is number two to go!
Perhaps a three-nil aggregate lead.
Sent in from long, the header's saved!
Oh, the rebound was there, it's still alive for De La Cruz.
Omar De La Cruz pulls it wide.
De La Cruz, back for De La Cruz, it's in!
Offside, it's pulled back!
It finishes Defense Force three, Saval nothing.
A week from now in the second leg
in this third place matchup.