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CONCACAF Champions League: ‘Golden Jaguars’ Gregory Richardson leads Joe Public past New England Revolution
Flashback!!! Gregory Richardson in full concentration as he weaves past Suriname’s Vangellino Sastronedjo in the first match of the home and away tie of the 2010 World Cup qualifier in Suriname. (Kaieteur Sport/Franklin Wilson photo)
By Franklin Wilson
‘Golden Jaguars’ Gregory ‘Jackie Chan’ Richardson maintained his billing as the hottest player in the T&T Pro League when he led leading Caribbean Powerhouse Joe Public to a 2-1 win over Major League Soccer side New England Revolution (NER) at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya, T&T on Tuesday night.
It was the opening night of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League which replaced the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
According to leading Administrator and Pundit Toussaint Boyce who witnessed the game, there was no answer for Richardson all night.
“He was so brilliant right through the match even scoring the first goal. At the start of the second half – the commentators were talking about New England Revolution taking him to the MLS and were totally unaware that he was Guyanese often referring to him as a Trinidadian who was likely going go play in England.”
Also recording wins on the opening night of competition were CD SC Cruz of Mexico who crushed Hankook Verdes of Belize 6-0 while at the Estadio Rod Carew in Panama, it was Tauro FC who emerged victorious, 2:0, against Chivas of the USA.
In Macoya, it was Richardson’s first Champions League goal and it came in the 51st minute giving Joe Public FC the lead. It was a lead that would double 18 minutes later when Jamal Gay, a second half substitute, scored with his first touch of the game.
But Mauricio Castro cut the deficit in half in the 75th minute when he converted from the spot.
Boyce said that as he watched Richardson destroy the NER backline on Tuesday night, He remembered the first time he took Jabloteh’s English coach Ricky Hill to scout him (Jackie Chan) and Walter ‘Boyd’ Moore, Nigel ‘Powers’ Codrington was injured at the time, when the Guyana team were playing in Trinidad while intransit on their way back to Georgetown after receiving a 5-1 whipping at the hands of Grenada.
“Poor ‘Jackie Chan’ could not even get past the Jabloteh right back Keyeno Thomas who was playing for the T&T team in that match. I remember Ricky saying that if he manages to get past Keyeno at least twice during the game he will give him a trial.
He could not even get past Keyeno once and so Ricky didn’t think he was good enough – but last night (Tuesday) on the same ground (Marvin Lee Stadium) at which he could not get past Keyeno he terrorised NER so badly that one commentator said that he stood “head and shoulders” above every other player on the field….and in the back for his own Joe Public was none other than his teammate Keyeno Thomas.”
Boyce believes that Richardson has matured superbly and gave a 100% commitment to getting to goal and defending.
“I haven’t seen him play in such a way a long time and it was a joy seeing what talent we have.
It’s a pity the Guyana World Cup campaign is over – because if he is now that good and ‘Powers’ remains as consistent a goal scorer as he is now, I cannot see us not having success up front.”
With the home and away match ups being decided on the away goals criteria should the teams finish level after two games, Castro’s strike might just prove to be critical when the NER return home to Gillette Stadium in the USA for the second-leg on September 2.
Richardson’s consistency in the T&T Pro League has continue to serve as inspiration to his fellow colleagues in the Pro League and as he told K-Sport in an interview in Suriname when Guyana played the first Leg of the 2010 World Cup Qualifying campaign which has ended, he is aiming for a big contract in Europe soon.
The winner of the preliminary-round series will join Mexican club Atlante, Honduran side Olimipia and the winner of the series between the Montreal Impact (Canada) and Real Esteli FC (Nicaragua) in Group C.
Meanwhile, for Tauro FC it was, arguably, an unexpected victory against US opposition with Edwin Aguilar scoring both goals – one each side of the break.
Aguilar’s strike in the first half was the first ever goal in the Champions League but despite the 2-0 advantage, Tauro FC will need to be at their very best if they are to make their lead hold up at the Home Depot Center, in California next Tuesday and reach the group stage.
Last night, six more teams were set to open their Champions League campaigns with games being played in Canada, Costa Rica and El Salvador.
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