Kwesi Mugisa, Staff Reporter
TIVOLI GARDENS all but guaranteed their spot in the final four of the Red Stripe Champions Cup when they thrashed Super League team Maverley/Hughenden 6-0 at the Edward Seaga Stadium yesterday.
Carlton Young did most of the damage for the rampaging National Premier League (NPL) team when he slammed in two first-half goals, in the 34th and 43rd minutes, and then added another couple in the second period of play when he netted in the 51st and 62nd minutes.
Horace Howell and Waheem Walker finished off Maverley with goals in the 80th and 84th minutes to all but eliminate Maverley with one leg still to go.
However, while goals were plentiful at the Edward Seaga stadium, they were scarce at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, where Arnett Gardens and Rivoli United lumbered their way to a 0-0 stalemate making the second leg a winner-take-all showdown at the Prison Oval.
While the first half proved to be an even affair, Arnett, with the introduction of Lacon Brissett and Cornel Chin-Sue, dominated second-half play.
They could have found themselves ahead in the 71st minute but Brissett's scorching free kick from 40 yards out was finger-tipped over the bar by Rivoli custodian Moschell Nelson. Kouri Pickersgill would come even closer in the 83rd minute when he unleashed a vicious right-footed effort that had Nelson beat all ends up but skimmed off the top of the crossbar. Chin-Sue also came close with a thunderous volley on the stroke of full time but that too crashed out of play with the aid of the crossbar.
WORK IN PROGRESS
"I thought we played reasonably well, I expected that there would be grey areas in terms of what I need from them, but it is a work in progress. We will continue to work on the intensity and the determination," said newly-appointed Arnett coach Bradley Stewart.
"Going to Spanish Town does not hold any terrors for us. If you look at the contests between the teams, over the years it has always been a contest that favours Arnett more than Rivoli,." Stewart said of the crucial second-leg fixture.
Rivoli coach Wayne Fairclough was pleased with his team's performance and believes it just might be able to pull off an upset at home.
"We came out here with a lot of heart today and put in a good effort and come next week we must fancy our chances at home," Fairclough said.
In other quarter-finals yesterday, home side Waterhouse, courtesy of goals from Keon Clunis in the 10th and Jomo Gordon in the 54th, beat Reno 2-1 to take a one-goal advantage heading into the second leg. Omar Dallas netted in the 27th for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Harbour View and Portmore are even heading into the second leg, courtesy of a 1-1 draw at the Harbour View Mini Stadium last night.
TODAY'S RESULTS
Tivoli Gardens 6
Carlton Young 34th, 43rd, 51st, 62nd, Horace Howell 80th, Waheem Walker 84th
Maverley/Hughenden 0
Arnett Gardens 0
Rivoli 0
Waterhouse 2
Keon Clunis 10th, Jomo Gordon 54th
Reno 1
Omar Dallas 27th
Harbour View 1
Fabian Taylor 80th
Portmore 1
Anthony Bennett 82nd
