Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Harbour View's captain Jermaine Hue (left) fights off a challenge from Waterhouse's Richard Edwards, while Kevin Lamey (right) looks on during their Red Stripe Champions Cup KO semi-final at the National Stadium on Sunday night. Hue and Lamey scored at the death to provide a pulsating finish, as Harbour View went on to win 4-2 in extra-time. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
JERMAINE HUE is not one of those God-like winged servants clad in white. Don't try telling that to his Harbour View coach Donovan Hayles though.
In one of the most dramatic matches of the season, Hue scored arguably the goal of the season to bring Harbour View back to life at 2-2 in the final seconds of the late Red Stripe Champions Cup KO semi-final on Sunday against Waterhouse at the National Stadium.
With Waterhouse still celebrating Kevin Lamey's go-ahead goal at the 88th minute, referee Peter Prendergast signalled the restart with Harbour View looking the loser.
However, the quick-thinking Hue spotted goalkeeper Loxley Reid off his line and from virtually the kick-off spot in the centre of the ballpark, the little maestro struck a beauty that fell through the grasp of Reid's hand and into the back of the net to send the game into extra time.
Not surprisingly, the Stars of the East went on to snatch a thrilling 4-2 win to advance to Sunday's final against Portmore United, who had beaten Reno 2-1 in the evening's first semi-final.
For Hayles, the little midfield maestro's finish seemed to possess a touch of immortality, forcing Hayles to compare the golden finish to one of the chosen few of heavenly domain.
"When an angel wears number 10 you do miracles and Jermaine Hue has done that tonight.
"People will look at it as luck but I believe you make your own luck. He has done it so many times in training," noted Hayles of the player with special ball-playing abilities.
He added: "In the end it turned out to be quite a comfortable victory, but we dominated 90 minutes and were playing quality football and if we didn't win today it would be football's unfaithfulness."
Meanwhile Geoffrey Maxwell, in his first game in charge of Waterhouse, said his team made some simple mistakes and paid the price.
"We made some very bad goalkeeping errors and we paid the price as these things happen.
"Waterhouse still have a lot to learn. We scored the goal, were leading and seven players are over here celebrating and the ball kicks off and where is the team?"
"We have to give credit to Jermaine Hue, fast thinking, very good. Congratulations to Harbour View, they got away this time," said Maxwell.
Lovell Palmer had given Harbour View a 40th minute lead, which was cancelled out by Irvino English's 48th minute penalty.
That was followed by Lamey's 88th minute goal which seemed to be the winner, until Hue's stroke of genius, backed up by goalkeeper Reid's folly in mishandling the ball, abruptly ended the wild celebrations of Waterhouse's players and fans.
In extra time, when Waterhouse virtually played with 10 as captain Desmond Breakenridge was injured and they had utilised their full quota of subs, Lovell Palmer again popped up to score his second goal and his team's third in the 109th minute.
Then, the ever-dangerous Robert Scarlett rifled a shot past the hapless Reid in the 119th minute to put the seal on a wonderful victory - one ignited with Hue's angelic touch.
