Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
ARNETT GARDENS and Portmore United advanced to the semi-finals of the all-island Red Stripe Champions Cup knockout competition with contrasting victories at the National Stadium on Wednesday night.
Arnett Gardens trounced Rivoli 5-2 for a 5-2 aggregate win, while Portmore edged Harbour View 3-2 to win 4-3 on aggregate.
Arnett Gardens will meet Tivoli Gardens, while Portmore tackle Waterhouse in Sunday's semi-finals at the same venue.
In the curtainraiser, Arnett Gardens had to come from behind after giving up a soft goal to Kemar Mills in the 18th minute.
But Arnett, playing in their change strip of blue and yellow tops and red shorts, equalised in the 36th minute from a well-taken free kick by Kouri Pickersgill.
Three minutes later, Jonathan Williams tapped home from a Lacon Brissett pass to make it 2-1. But in the 49th minute, Patrick Beech, formerly of Arnett Gardens, levelled the scores.
However, Arnett Gardens went into overdrive and scored three unanswered goals as Rivoli abandoned defence for all-out attack.
Kwame Richardson (60th), Gregg Taylor (80th) and Cornel ChinSue (85th) all benefitted by beating the offside trap and the goalkeeper before scoring.
The feature encounter between Portmore and Harbour View was of a different class.
BALL PASSING
Portmore's slick ball passing and movement off the ball was too much for the hustling Harbour View and the one-goal margin of victory could have been much more.
It was Harbour View that drew first blood, when Lovel Palmer's header gave them a dream start and a precious away goal in the fourth minute. Portmore equalised when Anthony Bennett rifled the ball past Leighton Murray at his near post in the 17th minute before Kemeel Wolfe gave Portmore a 2-1 half-time lead after collecting a chested pass from Kevin Deerr to slot home.
The talented Wolry Wolfe increased Portmore's advantage with a spectacular free kick in the 54th minute and when Fabian Taylor powered in an 80th minute header, it was all over for Harbour View. Winning coach Paul Young said he was proud off his team. "I thought we did excellent today. The first half was good, the second half, up and down. Overall I am glad for the victory, and we are in the semi-finals and hopefully we can move on to defend our title," said Young.
Meanwhile, losing coach Donovan Hayles said although his team lost he was satisfied with the second-half performance.
"I said defence would have won the game and we defended poorly. Nevertheless, I am very pleased with the second-half effort".
He continued: "The team played a much spirited game and that is something I am looking for to take back over to the Premier League.
"The players showed character because they could have easily folded after that first-half performance. This is a victory won, outside of winning the game," he said.
GOALSHEET
Arnett Gardens 5
Kouri Pickersgill 36th, Jonathan Williams 39th, Kwame Richardson 60th, Gregg Taylor 80th, Cornel ChinSue 85th.
Rivoli United 2
Kemar Mills 18th, Patrick Beech 49th.
Portmore United 3
Anthony Bennett 17th, Kemeel Wolfe 30th, Wolry Wolfe 54th.
Harbour View 2
Lovel Palmer 4th, Fabian Taylor 80th
