Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Portmore United's Ryan Powell (left) skips a challenge from Tivoli's Waheem Walker in their Wray and Nephew Premier League first leg final encounter at the National Stadium on Wednesday night. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
IT'S BACK to the drawingboard for the coaches of Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United after their first leg National Premier League final fizzled out to a tame 1-1 draw at the National Stadium on Wednesday night.
Preparing for the second and decisive leg of the final at the same venue on Monday, Portmore's Paul Young and Tivoli's Glendon Bailey said they will have to open up the game more to get the desired result and the champion's Cup.
'LIKE CHESS MATCH'
"Tonight was like a chess match and I think we did well. We had a few opportunities that we did not capitalise upon but we had three youngsters in the middle of the park and seven on the bench," said Young after a match in which Tivoli's Denroy Gordon scored in the seventh minute and Portmore skipper Kevin Deerr in the 13th.
It was indeed a chess match and, after a blistering start which saw two goals in the space of six minutes, both sides were seemingly willing to leave the checkmate move until Monday's meeting.
"The second half did not produce free-flowing football from either team," Bailey said.
"I think both teams were playing a tactical game and the players responded well to the instructions. In a way I am glad that we did not finish this game 1-0 as the players complacency might have crept in."
Both coaches agree that Monday will be a different affair.
"This one was even Steven, but come Monday it will be a fresh slate and we will have it all to play for, nobody can hold back then," Bailey said.
"Come Monday ... we're going to go out and work a little bit harder, come with a bit more intensity and try to get the win," said Young.
STRATEGY
The rehabilitation of hard-working midfielder Steve Green for the second final could be of great importance for Tivoli as he seemed to go down injured in several instances and was seen to hobble off when he was substituted late in the game.
Portmore's attack may be bolstered by the return of midfielder Wolry Wolfe who was unable to play in Wednesday's fixture due to injury.
The second leg game will begin at 5:00 p.m.
