LATE substitute Conrad Smith proved to be a good talisman for Joe Public, who staged a dramatic turnaround by scoring twice in the final five minutes to beat Defence Force 2-1 in their Toyota Classic quarter-final on Tuesday night at the Marvin Lee Stadium, Macoya.

There were also quarter-final wins on Tuesday for champions San Juan Jabloteh, who won 3-2 on penalties after being held goalless by United Petrotrin at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium. There was an upset in the second game down South, where Ma Pau, the season’s most improved team, saw off Caribbean champions W Connection 1-0 via a 54th minute Trevin Caesar goal.

The MLS meeting was a rematch of the First Citizens Cup final where Defence won 1-0 to confirm their superiority over Joe Public for most of this season. And the army team might have won again, except for Smith’s heroics. ’Smithy’ has struggled to keep a starting spot since joining Joe Public this season from Caledonia AIA. But he came on in the 74th minute as a replacement for Hayden Tinto to grab the equaliser five minutes from the end. And later, he set up Gorean Highley’s winner with the final kick of the ball in added-on time.

In truth, Defence Force threw away the match by wasting chances and failing to build on Jerwyn Baltazar’s fourh minute opener.

Baltazar gave Defence Force the early lead when he converted a flick-on header in just the fourth minute. And although Joe Public tried to get level, the ’Eastern Lions’ just seemed unable to reach top gear so late in the season. After finishing top-scorer with 34 Pro League goals, Joe Public striker Kerry Baptiste has been struggling of late, and on either side of half time, he shot over from close-up and later headed Seon Power’s cross wide of the near post, before leaving the match injured in the 61st. All the time, Defence Force had chances to extend the lead but showed little urgency, even when they had Joe Public stretched. And the chances which attacking players Kerry Joseph, Devon Jorsling and Kevon Carter failed to take, came back to haunt them.

First, Smith cut across the penalty area and unleashed a wicked left footer which comprehensively beat keeper Kevin Graham five minutes from the end to level the match at 1-1. And just when it looked like penalty-kicks would decide the tie, Smith chased the ball wide, and hit a low shot across the face of the goal, where Highley stuck out a leg to loop the ball past keeper Graham. What a comeback.

TOYOTA CLASSIC QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS:

San Juan Jabloteh 0 vs United Petrotrin 0

San Juan Jabloteh won 3-2 on kicks from the penalty spot.

Ma Pau SC 1 (Trevin Caesar, 54th) vs W Connection 0

Joe Public 2 (Conrod Smith (86th & 90+) vs Defence Force 1 (Jerwyn Balthazar (4th).