NEW YORK, CMC:
REIGNING National Premier League champions Harbour View were the only side to post a victory on Wednesday in the first leg of the semi-finals in the Caribbean Zone qualification for the CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Harbour View defeated hosts Intermeongetapoe of Suriname 6-4 at the Andre Kamperveen Stadium, while hosts San Juan Jabloteh of Trinidad and Tobago drew with Tivoli Gardens, the other Jamaican side, 1-1 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium.
The semi-finals continue today when Inter once again host Harbour View in the second leg in Suriname, while Tivoli Gardens host the return leg of the other series against Jabloteh in Kingston next Wednesday.
The winners will progress to the final round of Caribbean Zone qualification next month and the winner of the Caribbean Zone final advances to the six-team Champions Cup.
IMPRESSIVE SCORING FORM
In Paramaribo, Luton Shelton continued his impressive scoring form with a hat-trick in a workmanlike victory for the Jamaican side.
The Jamaicans only clinched the match in the last 10 minutes when second-half substitute Nicolas McCreath volleyed home in the 80th minute and Shelton completed his triple in stoppage time.
Craig Stewart had given the Jamaicans an early lead, scoring in the fourth minute, but that was cancelled out five minutes later when Johnny Bron scored the first of his two goals for Inter.
Shelton netted his first goal in the 16th minute to give Harbour View the lead once again, only for miscommunication between the defenders leading to an own goal that brought Inter level and left the scoreline tied 2-2 at halftime.
From as early as the 12th minute of the second half, the goal spree continued when Shelton knocked home his second goal, but Claudio Pinas scored three minutes later to keep Inter in the match.
Harbour View knew they were going to have a hard time when Jomo Gordon scored four minutes later and Bron lashed in his second to leave the scores tied with 15 minutes left.
STEPPED UP
The Jamaicans stepped up and McCreath, a 69th minute substitute, and Shelton sealed the deal.
In Port of Spain, after a scoreless first half, Fabian Davis gave Tivoli an early in the second half with a 58th minute goal, but Nigel Daniel scored the equaliser for Jabloteh with seven minutes remaining.
