CARIBBEAN ALL STARS emerged champions in the British Airways Barbados Legends Football Tournament after completing a 4-3 victory over Liverpool in the final at Kensington Oval on Saturday night.
A brace by striker Stern John and another goal by former Trinidad and Tobago captain Russell Latapy gave the All Stars an early 3-0 advantage but Liverpool fought back to level the score late in the second half through a double by Robbie Fowler, including a penalty, and a strike by Steve Harkness.
Caribbean All Stars used width to good effect with Latapy and Deon Burton making inroads down the right.
John opened the scoring by finishing off a cross from Latapy, who added a second goal with a precise finish past Liverpool goalkeeper Tony Warner for his fith goal of the tournament.
After John got his second goal, scoring from an acute angle, late in the first half, Liverpool started their comeback. Fowler’s right-footed effort beat goalkeeper Clayton Ince while Warner saved a penalty from Deon Burton to keep the score to 3-1 at half-time.
On resumption, Fowler converted a penalty which was awarded by the referee for a holding infringement.
Harkness scored the equalizer from a lovely build-up between Jari Litmanen and Stephane Henchoz. Liverpool then pushed forward in search of a victory but were halted by All Stars’ captain Paul Hall and the lanky Trinidadian Dennis Lawrence.
However, John got the winner when he shielded the ball from Stephane Henchoz and beat Warner with a well-placed shot to complete his hat-trick.
“It feels magnificent to keep this trophy on Caribbean soil. That was the most important thing, and we used that as our motivation to get us through,” captain Hall said after the final.
English-born Hall, who represented Jamaica at the 1998 World Cup before joining Coventry City, said he and his teammates will be back next year to defend the title.
“Barbados is a beautiful place. We love Barbados. Any part of the Caribbean we love and any part of the Caribbean we will come to defend this trophy because the Bajan people deserve to see us win,” he said.
Earlier in the night, Liverpool turned on the style as they destroyed arch-rivals Manchester United 6-1.
Stan Collymore opened the scoring with a scorching shot from outside the box before David Thompson added another goal.
Neil Mellor then volleyed in his second and Fowler headed in his third before David May smashed in a late consolation.
Liverpool’s formula was simple: get the ball wide and deliver into the big men. These big men were Neil Mellor and Fowler, who were both good in the air.
Despite carrying a two-goal lead the Liverpool Legends looked leggy at the back against a pacy Manchester United attack of Chris Casper and former West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara, who were joined at 2-0 by Dwight Yorke.
The “Prince” showed pace but missed a golden opportunity. That performance was followed by a 3-0 win against Arsenal thanks to a double from Fowler and a goal from Litmanen.
Impressive techniques were displayed all night. Earlier, Caribbean All Stars beat Everton 5-0 and in the semi-finals they downed the Professional Football Association All Stars 3-2. (CC/SH)
