All to play for in second leg

In a game that saw both teams having just eight shots on target in total, Arnett Gardens and Cavalier will have it all to play for in their second-leg Jamaica Premier League (JPL) semi-final following their opening leg 1-1 draw at Sabina Park yesterday.

The jam-packed venue anticipated a humdinger of a clash, but they had to wait a while before the teams got into their groove and started to display some enterprising football.

It was Cavalier who started more purposeful, and they should have taken the lead in the 31st minute when their talisman, Dwayne Atkinson, robbed Jaheim Thomas of the ball and rifled a right-footed shot just past the upright of a well-beaten Eric Edwards in the Arnett Gardens goal.

Ironically, after almost seeing his side go behind, it was Thomas who would step up to put the ‘Junglists’ in front in the 40th minute. Fabian Reid did some good work at the top of the box and passed to Thomas, who toe-poked his shot past Jeadine White, who made a hash of the save.

That goal energised the Arnett Gardens team, but just as they were getting into their rhythm, Cavalier hit back two minutes before the half ended when Jalmaro Calvin headed home at the back post following a delightful right-sided cross from Gadail Irvin.

Incensed by the goal given up by his custodian, Cavalier head coach Rudolph Speid brought on substitute goalkeeper Vino Barclett in the second half, and his introduction seemed to have been a masterstroke from Speid as the goalkeeper pulled off a remarkable low-diving save to deny Shai Smith in the 85th minute.

In the end, both teams settled for the result, and it will be all to play for heading into the return leg.

“I am a little disappointed in how we managed the game, and I thought we didn’t make good decisions. I am happy, though, that we will go into the next leg not trailing,” said Arnett Gardens coach Xavier Gilbert.

Cavalier’s coach, Spied, said his team should have capitalised after getting into the game with the equalising goal.

“Arnett Gardens started tentatively, and then they came into their own and got the goal, which ignited them. We came back right away, and we should have pressed them more, but all in all it was a good game, fitting of a semi-final,” Speid said.