By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS Portmore and Harbour View will have it all to do while Tivoli Gardens take a slim 1-0 lead into this afternoon's return legs of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League (NPL) semi-final doubleheader at the National Stadium.
The Portmore versus Harbour View game will start at 3:30 p.m. followed by the Tivoli-Village game, scheduled to get underway at 5:30 p.m. Both will be play-to-finish encounters with sudden death extra time and penalties to be used to decide the finalists if necessary.
It is still anybody's guess which two teams will advance as Wednesday's scorelines empahsised the thin margin between the combatants.
It took a brilliant strike from Fabian Davis to separate Tivoli and Village but the Trelawny team would have done enough to give themselves hope that they can overcome the deficit.
Village missed no fewer than three good chances including Teofore Bennett hitting the upright from point-blank range with goalkeeper Philmore Crumbie at his mercy.
MISTAKES
They know they can't afford any such mistakes today and the only plan they will have is to come out firing from the first whistle and try to come back on level pegging as soon as possible.
Coach Lloyd Williams had declared that his first order of business after Wednesday's game was to look at his offensive options and this could mean Fabian Dawkins and the impressive Abidun Adeyemi could come into the game much earlier than they did on Wednesday.
Both changed the complexion of the game when they were introduced late but were not on the field long enough to give them at least an equaliser.
Interestingly, both coaches were satisfied with their defence on Wednesday and it is expected they will be called on to work over time today.
But for one magical moment late in the first half when Roland Dean chested a cross into the path of Davis, he was kept largely in check by the Village defence.
INJURY
Tivoli's coach, Glendon 'Admiral' Bailey, will be hoping Darren Virtue has gotten over his hamstring injury and will be able to start today. If not, then the wily veteran Andrew Chisholm should take his place in the starting line-up along with Steve Green, Marvin Morgan and Christopher Jackson.
Portmore's coach, Lenworth Hyde, will hope the return of Daley who will be playing only his second game of the season after returning from English League team Reading, will make the difference.
Daley missed Wednesday's first leg after picking up two yellow cards in the previous game and will join Roen Nelson, Oniel McDonald, both of whom came off the bench on Wednesday, Winston Griffiths and Anthony Modeste.
Harbour View had to play catch up most of Wednesday's game and will be happy for a second chance to get a win.
Nicholas McCreath will lead the Harbour View attack that should include Luton Shelton and Craig Stewart.
