Cavalier stop Arnett for Mount Pleasant final clash
Cavalier defeated Arnett Gardens 3-1 in an incident-filled Jamaica Premier League (JPL) secondleg semi-final at Sabina Park yesterday, to make it a repeat of last season’s final against
Mount Academy, after a 4-2 aggregate win.
A Dwayne Atkinson penalty and an Adrian Reid strike put Cavalier 2-0 up, before Chevaney Willis pulled one back from the spot minutes before half-time, however, Jalmaro Calvin put the game to bed with a goal in second-half added time.
“That was the aim from the last season,” Cavalier’s coach Rudolph Speid said afterwards. “We have been to one final. We enjoyed the last one and wanted to be stronger and go to the next one.
“We wanted to take the lead, and did and it’s difficult to beat us when we are leading because we are one of the teams that defend very well and play in transition well. Once we scored it was easy to wait patiently and pick them off,” he added.
ADVANCE
Earlier at the same venue, defending champions Mount Pleasant defeated Waterhouse 2-1 to advance to next Sunday’s final 3-2 on aggregate.
It was a frantic start for both teams but there was nothing clearcut until the 15th minute, when Cavalier were awarded a penalty, which Atkinson converted to put them 1-0 up. Moments later disgruntled Arnett fans rained bottles on the field after what they deemed unfavourable referee calls, which held up the game for eight minutes.
On the resumption, Cavalier had two good chances but great goalkeeping from Arnett’s Eric Edwards kept them from going further ahead.
Arnett’s best chance of the half fell to Jaheim Thomas after 36 minutes, but he failed to control properly, after good individual work and a pass from Kaheim Dixon.
In the 42nd minute, Dixon put another great opportunity wide of the mark, while Willis came close with a powerful free kick from 20 yards out.
However, Cavalier extended their lead through a spectacular volley from Reid in first-half added time, when Arnett also reduced the deficit, after they were awarded a penalty and Willis slotted home.
LIVELY START
Arnett started the second half lively but Cavalier continued to threaten with efforts from long range.
Substitute Fabian Reid created Arnett’s best chance with a powerful shot from 18 yards.
Shai Smith then had a shot tipped over by Cavalier’s goalkeeper Vino Barclett, while Gadiel Irving fired a shot just over from 18 yards for Cavalier.
As Arnett continued to push forward, Reid shot off-target after making room for himself and again came close with a shot just past the far post in the 85th minute.
However, Cavalier sealed the deal when Calvin broke loose and placed the ball past Edwards to make it 3-1 on the night.
Arnett’s coach Xavier Gilbert believes they did not produce enough on the night.
“We possessed the ball well in the attacking third, but we just didn’t get those third runners in behind, so we weren’t patient enough and didn’t create enough opportunities,” Gilbert said.