The 2012 Trinidad and Tobago Classic was the eighth season of the TOYOTA Classic, which is a knockout tournament competition for teams in Trinidad and Tobago's TT Pro League and the National Super League. The tournament began on 23 November with 16 teams (8 each from the Pro League and Super League) competing in single elimination matches until the final on 7 December. W Connection entered as the tournament's defending champion having defeated T&TEC with a penalty shootout after the match ended 0–0.[1]
Qualification
Every club from the TT Pro League automatically qualified for the competition. In addition, following the conclusion of the National Super League season, the top eight teams ranked according to the league table qualified. All teams entered the competition at the first round.
The draw for the first round for the eighth edition of the tournament was conducted by Pro LeagueCEO Dexter Skeene on 20 November 2012, at the Hasely Crawford StadiumVIP Lounge.[2] The 16 teams in the competition, valued at TT$70,000 in total sponsorship, were drawn into four groups. Each Pro League club was drawn with a club from the National Super League for the first round of the single-elimination tournament.[1] In addition, the top four clubs in each league's table were drawn as the home team for their first round fixture.
The following clubs have qualified for this year's edition of the TOYOTA Classic:
All matches were played over two 45 minute halves, and in the process if the match were drawn at the end of regulation time, penalty kicks determined the winner.
In the first semifinal match on 30 November 2012, the giant-killers of Stokely Vale were eliminated from the tournament following a 4–1 loss on penalties after a regulation tie 1–1 against North East Stars.[11] The Sangre Grande Boys took the early lead with a goal from Cornell Glen four minutes from half-time and marked his third of the competition in as many games. Stokely Vale fought back in the second half and equalized in the sixtieth minute from Tyrone Manning. The match ended 1–1 after regulation and was decided on penalty kicks. Cleon John saved two penalties in the shootout which allowed North East Stars to cruise in the penalty shootout with successful efforts from Cornell Glen, Elijah Manners, Kerry Baptiste, and Seon Power.[12]Defence Force recorded its third consecutive clean sheet after a 3–0 victory over defending TOYOTA Classic champions W Connection.[13]The Soldiers used a goal from Rodell Elcock in the 30th minute to lead 1–0 at the break. The scoreline lasted well into the second half before Kevon Carter scored fifteen minutes from time to give Defence Force a 2–0 lead late in the match. Jerwyn Balthazar secured the win 3–0 in the 85th minute with a goal from outside the penalty area.[14][15]
