Racing’s great escape: Three late goals stun Portmore in six-goal thriller
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Racing United came away with an unlikely 3-3 draw against Portmore United in yesterday's Jamaica Premier League quarter-final first leg at the National Stadium, after going 3-0 down and coming back with three dramatic late goals.
Ronaldo Robinson (5th and 9th), with a double strike, put Portmore 2-0 up at half-time and Peter McGregor added the third early in the second period.
Tajay Grant started the comeback with a goal for Racing after 59 minutes. Nickyle Ellis made it 3-2 with 10 minutes to go, before Damorney Hutchinson scored a dramatic equaliser with three minutes left to play.
"We started a bit flat," pointed out Racing coach Anthony Patrick. "We were jogging to the ball (first half) and Portmore were sprinting. So they always had a foot or two in front of us.
"At the break we talked about it and hence, you saw the changes [IN THE] second half and it made a difference. So we got it together as quickly as possible in the second half and got back in the game."
The game was only five minutes old when McGregor turned his marker on the right flank and picked out Robinson, who produced an excellent first touch before slamming past Aaron Enill.
The game had barely restarted when Robinson extended Portmore's lead, slotting home from 12 yards, after the Racing defence collapsed following a string of Portmore attacks.
Grant had a great opportunity in the 22nd minute after he stole possession from goalkeeper Daniel Russell at the near post, but he turned the loose ball into the side netting from a tight angle
Portmore retreated deep into defence after the second goal, but Racing were toothless in attack and offered very little threat.
However, they did come close to a goal on 45 minutes when Ellis' free kick smacked against the post and back into play.
Early in the second half, Portmore were inches away from a third after McGregor and Tarick Ximines both dragged shots wide of the upright.
However, they got the third in the 51st minute when McGregor rose to meet a corner at the back post to make it 3-0.
However, credit must be given to Racing, who kept pushing forward, and in the 59th minute Ellis' shot from outside the box ran through and found Grant, who stabbed home from close range.
They then cut the deficit to one with 10 minutes to go. Ellis made room for himself in the box before dispatching past Russell in goal.
Then with three minutes remaining, the unimaginable happened, Hutchinson raced on to a pass over the top and beat the advancing Russell and a defender to the ball and slotted into a empty net to make it 3-3.
"We played well in the first half. We went 3-0 up and then we just switched off. We allowed them to score an easy goal and they just grew in confidence," commented Portmore coach Rodolph Austin.
"It's not acceptable to see the type of goals we conceded. It's not in our DNA, but it's football," he added.