Tactically better

MONTEGO BAY United Football Club’s (MBU) coach, Rodolfo Zapata, is liking the way his team is executing the tactical awareness he desires from them if they are to be a force to be reckoned with in this year’s Jamaica Premier League.

On Monday night, MBU won their first home game, a chaotic 1-0 result, over Arnett Gardens.

MBU skipper, Owane Gordon, struck the vital nail, scoring in the 39th minute in a game that could have gone either way.

“It was a very tactical game. It was a battle in the middle. We make high pressing and played beautiful football. I like an attacking and offensive foothall and it worked,” said Zapata.

Accoding to the coach, Arnett provided a real test for his team, but that the execution of tactics made the difference.

“I respect them because they have a really good team. In the end, tactically we played better than them,” he said.

The encounter was fiery with the referees kept busy, creating a stop-start effect that pushed aside the intent to produce free-flowing football.

Arnett seemed the aggressors in the early going, but MBU gave as good as they got, with Gordon’s lone goal not an undserved result in the first half.

Arnett would recover in the second half but stout defending would keep them at bay, leaving coach Xavier Gilbert looking at the little things.

“We have to defend tighter and smarter. Too many turnovers and unforced errors. Sometimes when we are not under any pressure. They hit us in transition and it is something that has been plaguing us. We have to keep the ball better,” Gilbert said.

MONDAY’S RESULTS

Mount Pleasant 4-0 Racing United

Cavalier 4-1 Dunbeholden

MBU 1-0 Arnett Gardens