The 2017 Trinidad and Tobago League Cup (known for sponsorship reasons as the 2017 First Citizens Cup) was the eighteenth season of the First Citizens Cup, which is the league cup competition for Trinidad and Tobago teams competing in the TT Pro League. Defence Force entered as the cup holders having defeated Ma Pau Stars by a score of 1–0 in the 2016 final. First Citizens Bank changed the slogan to "Where Winners Reign" due to the amount of money that the winner of the tournament would obtain. Teams were drawn into numbers with respect to their position in the 2017 TT Pro League at the time of the draw. It means that teams from 7–10 in the league enter at the play-offs, while from 1–6 enter at the quarterfinal stage. W Connection were crowned 8-time champions after defeating Defence Force in the final.[1]
| Trinidad and Tobago League Cup | |
|---|---|
| Tournament details | |
| Country | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Teams | 10 |
| Defending champions | Defence Force |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | W Connection |
| Runner-up | Defence Force |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 10 |
| Goals scored | 31 (3.1 per match) |
| Top goal scorer(s) | Jorsling 3 goals |
Draw Numbers
editThe teams were drawn into their respective league position at the time of the draw.
Results
editPlay-off round
editThe setup for the tournament.[2][3]
| 11 October 2016 | Central | 2–1 | St. Ann's Rangers | Couva |
| 18:00 (UTC-4) | Marcano  60'John 90+2' |
Report | Toussaint 69' |
Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium |
| 11 October 2016 | Police | 0–0 (1–4 p) | Point Fortin Civic | Couva |
| 20:00 (UTC-4) | Report | Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium | ||
| Penalties | ||||
Ryan  Mc Fee  Kirton |
Mitchell Garcia Henry Thomas |
|||
Quarterfinals
editThe quarterfinals began with a double header at the Ato Boldon Stadium where Club Sando made a come from behind win against Morvant Caledonia United. It set the seen for an enthralling game between Defence Force and San Juan Jabloteh which ended 3-3 with 'the Army' advancing to the semis. A surprise result happened the following day with Point Fortin Civic knocking out North East Stars. The final game of the quarters was the 'Couva Classico' where 'The Savonetta Boys' beat Central to face Club Sando in the semis.[4]
| 14 October 2017 A | North East Stars | 0–1 | Point Fortin Civic | Malabar |
| 15:30 (UTC-4) | Report | Mitchell 49' |
Stadium: Larry Gomes Stadium |
| 15 October 2017 B | W Connection | 3–1 | Central | Marabella |
| 15:30 (UTC-4) | Benjamin 37' Silva Couto 59'Diaz 90+1' |
Report | Gordon 45+1' |
Stadium: Mannie Ramjohn Stadium |
| 13 October 2017 C | Club Sando | 3–1 | Morvant Caledonia United | Couva |
| 18:00 (UTC-4) | Armstrong 36' (pen.), 88' Trimmingham 42' |
Report | Daniel 33' |
Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium |
| 13 October 2017 D | Defence Force | 3–3 (4–2 p) | San Juan Jabloteh | Couva |
| 20:00 (UTC-4) | Moore 26' Arcia 80'Jorsling 90+1' |
Report | Hutchinson 69', 72' Simpson 86' |
Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium |
| Penalties | ||||
| Jorsling Arcia Gonzales King |
Manners Hinkson Benjamin David |
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Semi-finals
editGoalkeeper Andre Marchan epitomised the true heart-of-a-soldier when, limping through injury, he made three saves in a nail-biting penalty shootout against Point Fortin Civic on Friday night to put Defence Force one win away from successfully defending the First Citizens Cup. In a scintillating contest fit for a final, Defence Force surfaced 4-3 penalty winners over Civic following a dramatic 3-3 draw in semi-final one at the Ato Boldon Stadium, before Connection left it late to dispatch 10-men Club Sando 2-0 in semi-final two with a goal each from Neil Benjamin Jr. and substitute Daniel Diaz.[5]
| 3 November 2017 M | Point Fortin Civic | 3–3 (3–4 p) | Defence Force | Couva |
| 18:00 (UTC-4) | Henry 11' Gregory 37'Mitchell 53' (pen.) |
Report | Jorsling 17', 40' Balthazar 90+3' |
Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium |
| Penalties | ||||
| Mitchell Garcia Henry Rouse Campbell Bass |
Arcia Gonzales Moore King Jorsling Mc Intyre |
|||
| 3 November 2017 N | W Connection | 2–0 | Club Sando | Couva |
| 20:00 (UTC-4) | Benjamin 69' Diaz 82' |
Report | Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium |
Third-place match
edit| 17 November 2017 | Point Fortin Civic | 1–1 (3–4 p) | Club Sando | Couva |
| 18:00 (UTC-4) | Garcia 45' |
Report | Redhead 85' |
Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium |
| Penalties | ||||
| Mitchell Garcia Sadoo Campbell Joseph |
Stephens Rivers Russell Trimmingham Charles |
|||
Final
editSuriname international Dimitrie Apai picked up the Final’s MVP and Best Forward honours while his side W Connection celebrated a record-extending eighth First Citizens Cup by dethroning Defence Force 3-1 on Friday night at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva.
| 17 November 2017 | Defence Force | 1–3 | W Connection | Couva |
| 20:00 (UTC-4) | Arcia 14' |
Report | Apai 19', 85' Hector 24' |
Stadium: Ato Boldon Stadium Referee: Rashby Mc Phie |