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UWI put one foot into RSPL final

Published:Sunday | May 7, 2017 | 12:00 AMMarc Stamp
Ricardo Makyn
UWI FC's Keammar Daley on the ball while under pressure from Portmore United's Ewan Grandison in their Red Stripe Premier League first leg semi-final encounter at the Wembley School of Excellence in Hayes Clarendon, yesterday. UWI won 2-1.

The University of the West Indies (UWI) FC made a bold step towards a place in the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) final when they staged a come-from-behind 2-1 win against Portmore United yesterday at the Wembley Centre of Excellence in Clarendon.

Portmore took the early lead when Ricardo Morris netted in the third minute. However, Girvon Brown equalised when he scored a header in the 22nd minute. Substitute Patrick Brown scored the winner in the 68th minute.

The Portmore team had some clear chances to score, but were let down by faulty shooting from Morris, Cleon Pryce and second-half substitute Maalique Foster.

UWI's assistant coach, Andrew Peart said that it was a good feeling for his team after ending a four-game win-less streak during the late part of the preliminary stage.

"Yes, we are satisfied with the team's performance and victory, based on previous games in which we failed to win," Peart told The Gleaner.

He admitted that it was a slim lead, so the two-way tie was far from over.

"We are fully aware that a one-goal lead is not much to play around with. We will go back home and prepare for the return game that is set for our home turf," the coach said.

 

GOOD CHANCES

 

Looking back at the game, he said that although Portmore created some good chances, it was down to his team turning over the ball a lot.

"A lot of their chances were as a result of turnovers. We have to correct the mistakes and come back," he said.

UWI should welcome back the experienced duo of defender Kemar Flemmings and midfielder Dawyne Smith, who missed the game due to different reasons.

"We will have back Flemmings, who missed the game because of a one-match suspension, and Rick (Smith), who had work commitment. They will make the team stronger," Peart explained.

Patrick Brown, who entered the field as a substitute in the second half, scored the all-important goal.

"It is a semi-final, so to come off the bench and score the winning goal is a great feeling," Brown said.

"We have to go back and focus on the second game. We will continue the good work and move on to the final," he added.

Meanwhile, losing coach Linval Dixon rued the missed chances.

'We missed a lot of chances that we should have scored and it came back to haunt us," Dixon reasoned. "We have to get ourselves ready for the second leg," he added.

In the other first-leg semi-final, Arnett Gardens face off against Humble Lion at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Trench Town tonight, starting at 8.