Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
Portmore United's Wolry Wolfe (rear) outjumps Waterhouse's Richard West. - PHOTOS RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
IT TOOK a brilliant Kevin Lamey injury-time goal to separate Waterhouse and Portmore United in their Wray and Nephew National Premier League semi-final at the National Stadium last night.
In a game that saw both teams seem cautious in their approach, Lamey gave his side a crucial 1-0 edge going into Sunday's second leg semi.
In the late encounter of the doubleheader, Tivoli outclassed Harbour View 3-1 with the goals coming from Roland Dean (34th), Christopher Dackson (39th), Kemar Mills (85th) and a lone Harbour View goal coming from Lovell Palmer (68th). (See report in tomorrow's Gleaner).
Having started on the bench due to an injury, according to coach Geoffrey Maxwell, Lamey proved to be the difference when he came on with about 15 minutes to go in the second half of the opening match.
He was a menace as soon as the change was made, displaying deft one-touch passes and brilliant running off the ball. He missed an opportunity to make an even earlier impact on the scoresheet when he headed wide of goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers and the post with about four minutes remaining in the game.
ONE-TOUCH BALL
However, he made amends with only a minute of extra time left when he played a cheeky one-touch ball to Weston Forrest and then sprinted towards goal. The ball found its way back to him and he fired past Sawyers, roofing the ball and plunging a dagger into the hearts of Portmore United.
Maxwell insisted Lamey's late introduction was not part of a grand strategy.
"Kevin has a slight injury and we didn't want to risk him. We felt that if the game ended at 0-0 it would be better to have him on Sunday," Maxwell said.
Portmore were left to lament their fortunes in a match which was characterised by tough tackling and seemed destined to end in a stalemate.
"We lost concentration towards the end of the game even though, overall, we played well. But that is football and these things happen sometimes," said their coach Paul Young.
Still, Young remains confident that the battle is far from over. "I am disappointed but we still have one game left to go. We played well today and we will bounce back on Sunday," he said.
"We have come from behind before. We are just going to play and look to get back two goals. The important thing is that we are only one goal down and we will look to level the match and try to win it from there."
On the other hand, Maxwell said: "Tonight the players will celebrate but for me I have to start thinking about a strategy for winning the game on Sunday."
