Nodley Wright, Freelance WriterAFTER YESTERDAY'S carnival in the streets, the National Stadium will come alive with a carnival of a different kind, football, with the main feature pitting Portmore United and Waterhouse.
The two best teams in the country, at least in the second End-of-Round final of the Wray and Nephew National Premier League at 8:00p.m.
Grand Stand tickets will cost $500 while Bleachers will cost $300.
The feature game will be preceded at 6:00p.m. by the end of competition final in the Under-21 category between Harbour View and Portmore United.
AT STAKE
At stake will be $150,000 for the winners and $90,000 for the runners up. The third (Tivoli Gardens) and fourth-placed (Arnett Gardens) teams will receive $60,000 and $40,000 respectively.
The Harbour View team which features the likes of national striker Luton Shelton, Under-20 striker Kemar Petrekin, national midfielder Akiem Priestly, national defender Jermaine Taylor, national Under-23 goalkeeper Ryan Thompson, will tackle a Portmore team unbeaten in over 24 games, including last year's final.
Among Portmore's top players are Kemeel and Rafe Wolfe (Jamaica Under-20 representative), Steven Morrisey (national Under-20 representative), Brain Daley, goalkeeper Jacomena Barrett and former Jamaica youth player defender Leon Williams.
FITTING END
The senior final brings about a fitting end to the second round. It pits the form team of the round, Portmore United, who have dropped just five points for the round - one loss and one draw.
That one loss was to Waterhouse who have demonstrated tremendous fighting spirit and team work.
In their sole meeting of the round, the game was keenly contested with Waterhouse pulling off an upset win away from home. Today's game should be similarly hard fought.
"It will be a tough game, a good physical display by both teams but we will be coming to play our A game," said Paul Young, who has led Portmore on their impressive second round run.
In that time they have scored freely.
If Young has his way then a similarly free-scoring performance could be expected as "we will go all out to attack and put the pressure on them," said Young with his eyes on the $150,000 cheque for the winners.
The runners up will collect $75,000.
In Kevin Deerr and Roen Nelson, Portmore United have two of the best strikers in the competition and if they get off, could be very difficult to contain.
What is also in Portmore's favour is the depth of the squad which will benefit from the return of former national midfielder Chris Dawes, who along with Grenadian Anthony Modeste, should provide stability in midfield.
FULL STRENGTH
"We have everyone available. Christopher Dawes who missed last week's game against Arnett Gardens will be back so we will be at full strength," said Young adding, "Our preparation was excellent all week. The players are highly motivated knowing that Waterhouse were the only team to beat us in this round."
The fact that Waterhouse beat Portmore in their previous meeting, will also serve as a motivator for the team which dub themselves 'Firehouse'.
"Having beaten them already in this round will count for very little in the actual outcome of this game," Waterhouse coach Peter Cargill said in his usual way.
"We just have to go out there and do it again. That win gives us motivation to do it again, having done it before," he added.
Today's final marks the second such final in succession for Waterhouse, who were beaten in the first round final by Harbour View. Having fallen short on the first occasion, they will want to do everything to ensure that this time they come out on top.
All throughout the second round Waterhouse have put in one battling display after another as they faced one injury problem after another. According to Cargill today will be no different.
"(Kevin) Lamey got injured in the last game and we are not sure about his availability for this game. We will decide on his availability the day," Cargill told The Gleaner yesterday.
If Lamey, their main source of goals is unable to play, he would join the likes of Garfield Robinson and Loxley Reid with the other victims Damion Powell and Demar Phillips just back in training.
Like Lamey, Powell and Phillips will know if they take part in the game shortly before match time.
