MACOYA, Trinidad, CMC – Joe Public slumped to their fourth straight loss as they ended their CONCACAF Champions League campaign with a 1-4 home defeat to Columbus Crew at the Marvin Lee stadium here Thursday night.
The T&T Pro League outfit flattered to deceive throughout the Group `B’ encounter, after they held the Major League Soccer unit 1-1 at half-time.
Andres Mendoza nodded the Crew ahead in the 20th minute when he found himself unmarked and on the receiving end of a Jason Garey cross off the right flank, and beat the hapless Glenroy Samuel from the edge of the six-yard box.
Joe Public restored parity and false hope of the encounter being a competitive one, via a fortuitous Trent Noel penalty in the 27th minute.
Referee Stanley Lancaster of Guyana deemed Joshua Williams’ shoulder charge on Andre Toussaint a foul and pointed to the spot.
There was a moment of confusion when Lancaster’s assistant had flagged for an infringement which the referee interpreted to be offside. The penalty was overturned only for Lancaster to revert to his original judgement after consultation.
Noel converted with aplomb and Joe Public went in on even terms at the interval.
The faint hope of matching strides with the Crew went overboard in the second stanza with the immediate introduction of Emilio Renteria.
He converted from the spot after Joe Public defender Keion Goodridge was adjudged to have handled a Josh Williams header five minutes after resumption.
Renteria went on to complete a brace in the 81st minute when he fired in from a solo run which ended with a blast high past Samuel in the middle of his bars.
He then turned provider for the fourth goal as he slid his cross along the carpet for Dilly Duka to combine with Duncan Oughton via a back heel, to blast in uncontested past Samuel two minutes into stoppage time.
Columbus Crew ended second in Group B with 12 points with Santos of Mexico topping them with 13.
Joe Public managed one point but now switch their focus to dethroning T&T Defence Force today in the First Citizens Bank Cup final.