Depleted Cavalier stand in the way of rising MBU

CAVALIER SOCCER club will have it all to do when they play the improving Montego Bay United (MBU) at Stadium East today at 6 p.m.

The Rudolph Speid-coached Cavalier will be missing eight players, six on national U20 duties, while Shaniel Thomas and Richard King are away on trial.

Once five or more layers from a club are selected for national duties, the club has the option of requesting a postponement. Nevertheless, it is not the case for Cavalier, said coach Rudolph Speid.

Speid acknowledged, with the missing players, their task will be a lot harder. However, he maintains that three points will be the objective.

“Our team is weak because we are missing eight players. But we will not ask for any postponement. We are Cavalier and we will play with what we have,” he said.

“All the players that are away are quality. So the reserves will have to step up. We will try our best to win the game and, if we cannot, we will try to stop them from winning. So we will still try our best to make it difficult.”

Cavalier are unbeaten in eight matches and are third in the table on 31 points, the same as second-placed Portmore and one behind leaders Mount Pleasant.

Their opponents, MBU, have made several major signings in the January window, including attacking ace Owayne Gordon, who has formed a formidable offensive partnership with Brian Brown, and Speid is well aware of the threat they pose.

“Those guys were former big-time scorers in the league, and they understand what it is about. They also have some Trinidadians and some Brazilians. So they are well stacked. So MoBay is one of the better teams now, in terms of potential.

“They built a good unit in the transfer window but it remains to be seen if they have gelled and surpassed us. We are looking to get a positive result. We are not worried about them. We know they have lots of quality, and a win carries them closer to the top six.

“So they have everything to play for and will come well motivated to do the business. But we are motivated too. We are eight matches unbeaten and we want to keep it,” he said.

UNBEATEN

For the first time this season, MBU have stayed unbeaten for more than two matches.

The Neider Dos Santos-coached team are now unbeaten in their last four matches, a sign that the former champions are again on the rise.

Nevertheless, Dos Santos knows what Cavalier is about and anticipates a testing encounter.

“It’s going to be a tough game,” he told The Gleaner.

“Cavalier have done well in their last few matches, we have strengthened our team with newcomers in the window.

“We are pretty confident we will have a competitive match against them. But we will try our best to get the three points but it will be very difficult.”

The newly acquired players have been a massive boost up top for the Brazilian coach, and with MoBay sitting in eighth place, three points behind Dunbeholden in sixth, the aim now is to push for a play-off spot

“In the first round, we struggled putting the ball in the net. We created a lot of chances and missed. But the beginning of the second round, things look promising.

“In the last two matches, we scored five goals. So it’s a considerable improvement in the striking line-up.

“Our aim is to reach the top six, so, for the second round, we need to gather points. We are four matches unbeaten and we want to keep on that path, gather as much as we can and fight for a place in the play-offs,” he said.

“Cavalier lost the first-round match to us, so they will be very eager a win. But we are in the same mood and will try our best to get the three points.”

The game is the second of a double-header at Stadium East with Molynes United and Humble Lion opening proceedings at 3:30 p.m.

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Today’s Games

Dunbeholden vs Mount Pleasant at Dunbeholden (3 p.m.)

Treasure Beach vs Portmore at STETHS (3 p.m.)

Waterhouse vs Lime Hall at Drewsland (4 p.m.)

Molynes Utd vs Humble Lion at Stadium East (3:30 p.m.)

Cavalier vs Montego Bay Utd at Stadium East (6 p.m.)