NATIONAL PREMIER League team Village United won but lost yesterday in the second round of the Red Stripe Champions Cup KO competition.
The Trelawny representatives defeated Sandy Bay 1-0 at the Elliston Wakeland Centre but lost 2-1 on aggregate as Sandy had won the previous leg 2-0. Jahvan Russell scored for Village in the 11th minute.
With the win Sandy Bay advance to the third round of the competition and their confident coach, Mark Calvin, said he was prepared for Village and expected nothing short of advancing.
"I knew that Village were going to come at us and I was prepared for that. What I did was to give them the flanks because they cannot score from the flanks. Unfortunately, they squared a ball and eventually earned a goal from it but all in all I know I am better than Village by two goals," he said.
While Sandy Bay were on a high Village United were left questioning the commitment of their playing staff.
NO PASSION
"All in all, what I am seeing now is that players nowadays are not playing with that passion. They are not going out there to play their hearts out," said Village assistant coach Lloyd Williams.
"They just play because they are members of the team. This quality football that I am seeing now especially from the Village players needs to improve. They need to step up and we need to do something about it," he said. Meanwhile, NPL contenders Rivoli booked their place in the last eight of the Cup after eliminating Wadadah 4-2 on aggregate.
The Harold Thomas-coached team drew yesterday's return leg 1-1 at Jarrett Park but advanced after winning the first leg 3-1 two weeks ago at the Prison Oval.
Marvin Henry headed Rivoli into the lead after 37 minutes yesterday while Olivia Sewell scored for Wadadah in the 80th minute.
Buoyed by the return of top striker Jermaine Anderson from Malaysia where he went to try out for a Super League club, Wadadah needing to win the second leg by two clear goals, started the better.
In the 25th minute, Wadadah had a clear shot at goal when Daniel Ricketts shot straight at goalkeeper Damion Crooks after getting by two defenders.
Henry's goal, which came against the run of play, knocked the wind out of the Wadadah sails and the game lost a lot of steam after that.
The pudgy Henry was left unmarked and was able to loop a corner from the left side out of the reach of Nunyi Wright in the Wadadah goal. With 10 minutes to go, Sewell shot from a melee of players in front of the Rivoli goal and the ball dribbled across the line.
Tivoli Gardens registered the fastest goal of the season when Orane Simpson scored after just 11 seconds as the home team carved out a 4-1 win over Newland at the Edward Seaga Stadium.
Further goals by Christopher Nicholas (54th penalty), Lenworth Hyde Jnr (79th) and Kemar Mills in the 85th minute carried the Premier outfit to a comfortable 6-3 aggregate win and set up a possible clash with Harbour View in the next round.
In the day's other encounter, Harbour View comfortably accounted for St. George's 4-2 to advance 6-3 on aggregate. Nicholas McCreath (twice) and Donald Stewart were on target for the victors who also benefitted from an own goal from the hosts at Lynch Park.
| Arlington | vs | Portmore |
| Waterhouse | vs | Boys' Town |
| Los Perfectos | vs | Arnett Gardens |
| Reno | vs | Holland Police |
Home teams named first, All games start at 3:00 p.m. except the Waterhouse match which begins at 6:00.
