Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse's Vincent Earl (left) controls the ball under pressure from Rivoli's Rueben Whittaker, who is himself pressed by Richard Edwards of Waterhouse, in action from their quarter-final Red Stripe Champions Cup match at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday. Waterhouse won 3-2 making them 4-3 winners on aggregate. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WATERHOUSE BOOKED themselves a ticket to the semi-finals of the Red Stripe Champions Cup KO Competition after knocking off Rivoli United 3-2 to win 4-3 on aggregate in their fixture played at the Spanish Town Prison Oval yesterday.
Waterhouse took control early and applied pressure from the instant the whistle was blown. Their diligence reaped them an early reward in the fifth minute when a Damion Powell square found the boot of teammate Kirk Ramsay who tapped the ball past goalkeeper Nelson Moschell. The 'keeper, despite having got a hand to the ball, failed to keep it out of the net.
Waterhouse continued to use every inch of the pitch as they moved the ball from right to left before launching probing passes into Rivoli's final third. A free kick conceded just outside of the 18-yard box saw them extend their lead. The ball, whipped across the goal, was met by Irvino English who headed past a hapless Moschell to put his team two up in the 18th minute.
NO MEANINGFUL INROADS
Despite failing to make any meaningful inroads into the Waterhouse back line, a quick Rivoli counter attack move caught their opponents out.
Ricardo Knight, taking full advantage of the situation, broke into the Waterhouse penalty box. He was deemed to have been brought down in the ensuing skirmish and referee Raymond Pine immediately pointed to the spot.
Goalkeeper Loxley Reid guessed right and saved the initial attempt from Marvin Henry, but Henry however quickly pounced on the deflection and slotted into an unguarded net to pull one back for Rivoli at the stroke of halftime.
Rivoli started the second half in a positive fashion and seemed to be stringing a few meaningful passes together. Their cause was severely hampered when errant dribbling from centre half Mark Wisdom led to him making a rash challenge for which he was sent off.
Waterhouse wasted no time in pressing home the advantage, Kevin Lamey, finding himself with space, cracked a ferocious shot which beat goalkeeper Moschell at his near post in the 72nd minute.
Waterhouse's Baris Johnson's second yellow card aided Rivoli's cause and in the 79th minute substitute Gregory Tape netted them a consolation goal.
Waterhouse's coach Max Straw, while expecting victory, was pleased with the effort his team exerted.
'THE BIGGER TEAM'
"We are the bigger team and we had to come here and seek to dominate ... the players were focussed and were very determined to come away with this result," Straw said.
Rivoli coach Harold Thomas was very disappointed in his team's performance.
"I am very disappointed ... this wasn't football. If you don't play the game to win you cannot win," Thomas said.
Waterhouse next meet Harbour View in the semis scheduled for May 15 at the National Stadium.
