By Nodley Wright, Staff Reporter
Arnett Gardens' Cornel Chin-Sue drives past Fabian Pena of Necaxa during their CONCACAF Club Championship match at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex last night. The game ended 0-0. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer
THERE WERE no ashes at Tony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.
Mexican team Necaxa failed to live up to expectations as they were expected to burn local team Arnett Gardens in their CONCACAF Club Championship at the Tony Spaulding Sports Complex however both teams ended 0-0 after 90 minutes.
That tie will be broken when they meet again on March 19 at Aguascaliantes in Mexico. They are playing for a date with the winner of the Montagua (Honduras) and Los Angeles Galaxy (United States) clash.
Alejando Bocardo, a member of the Mexican delegation, is convinced that they will take care of business in their homeland.
"It was good to draw here but it will be even better to win at home and we will win," said Bocardo at the end of the game.
Arnett Gardens' coach, Jerome Waite, also saw positives.
"We played a good counter-attacking game," Waite said. "People think that we played with one forward but we actually played with three. It is just that they had defensive responsibilities," said he of the formation his side played.
He also felt they should have capitalised on their chances.
That aside, Waite believes his players will be encouraged by their performance.
"What happened today served to lift the spirits of our team," he said.
"I know it will not be easy in Mexico but scoring one goal in Mexico will be like two for us as they would have to score twice," he explained. That, of course, is if the game ends in a draw.
One major difficulty Waite foresees is the high altitude of Mexico which has always affected teams playing there.
"The major difficulty now is playing in the high altitude but we will try to simulate that situation in Jamaica."
In a tentative first half, the visitors looked more composed and accomplished than the defensive hosts and almost took the lead twice. In just the ninth minute, Rodolfo Espinoza, who was always free on the right flank, struck the crossbar with a well-struck left-footer after being released by Alvaro Ortiz who dribbled out of midfield.
Gamadiel Garcia, who formed part of the attacking trio with Eric Marin and Espinoza, created an opportunity for Marin in the 31st minute when he crossed but Marin's downward header was brilliantly stopped by goalkeeper Julian McLeish and then cleared by sweeper Wayne Ellis.
Jonathan Williams spotted goalkeeper Nicolas Navarro off his line in the 40 minute but his attempted lob from about 40 yards went just high.
The second half was more purposeful for Arnett Gardens as the forwards were identifiable for a change.
The half belonged to Arnett Gardens as they created the better chances. The first fell to Kevin Wilson who was fed a cross by Gerald Neil who made a strong run down the right flank.
Wilson failed to score as he took too long to fire and muffed his effort under a challenge as he went down in the box.
Fabian Davis had the only solid shot on goal which was punched clear.
