Howard Walker, Staff Reporter
Waterhouse's strike force, Irvino English (right) and Roberto Fletcher. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
TODAY'S GAMES
Arnett Gardens vs Tivoli Gardens - 5:00 p.m.
Waterhouse vs Portmore - 7:00 p.m.
DEFENDING champions Portmore United will put their all-island Red Stripe Champions Cup Knockout title on the line when they meet Waterhouse at the National Stadium at 7:00 p.m. in one of today's semi-finals.
In the curtain-raiser, Arnett Gardens and perennial rivals Tivoli Gardens clash at 5:00 p.m.
The format for the semi-finals will be different than in the earlier competition which consisted of two legs. It will be one-off games straight to the final set for next Sunday.
Portmore, in their run to the semi-finals, eliminated two top National Premier League (NPL) teams in Village and Harbour View.
BUBBLING WITH CONFIDENCE
The St. Catherine-based team will be bubbling with confidence but face the in-form Premier League leaders at the moment and should find them a different proposition.
In three meetings so far this season, Portmore have failed to defeat Waterhouse, drawing two and losing one.
Paul Young, coach of Portmore, says it will be a tough battle between two quality teams.
"It will be a keen contest. As you know Waterhouse and Portmore have a keen rivalry."
He continued: "They are the league leaders and they are doing well right now, so it will be a good game.
"We will not be taking things lightly. We will be playing Portmore's game, passing and try and control the middle of the park and dictate the pace of the game," he said.
Meanwhile, Wayne Fairclough, coach of red-hot Waterhouse, knows he has a fight on his hands to dethrone the champions.
"It will be a good encounter. Portmore are an excellent team. They have being playing pretty well for the past two to three months," said Fairclough.
"They will be coming for it as the defending champions but we know what we are about and we need to keep on winning," he said.
Portmore will be depending on their 'animal instincts' to get the better of Waterhouse. The combination of the Wolfe brothers Wolry and Kemeel along with the dangerous Kevin Deerr could do the trick.
Anthony Modeste, Jason Morrison, the improving Anthony Bennett and the Sawyers brothers, Shawn and Tyrone, will add to the threat.
Waterhouse will be without their two main strikers in Kevin Lamey and Jomo Gordon along with creative midfielder Damion Williams.
But they have being getting positive results as Roberto Fletcher, Irvino English, Oneil Robinson, Demar Phillips and Marco McDonald have all stepped up to the plate with sterling performances.
TENSE ENCOUNTER
The clash of the gardens between Arnett and Tivoli might not be as mouth-watering as the Waterhouse/Portmore encounter, but it will certainly be as intense.
Both teams always produce their best whenever they meet and today will be no different.
Arnett will be without the injured Kevin 'Pele' Wilson and may find it a bit difficult to break down Tivoli Gardens.
The speedy and hard-kicking Kwame Richardson will lead the 'Junglist' attack and should get good support from Jonathan Williams and Cornel ChinSue.
However, the orange-and-black-clad Tivoli Gardens are more consistent and have been playing better football of late.
In captain Kasai Hind, Victor Thompson, Steve Green, Oraine Simpson, Roland Dean, Christopher Nicholas and Fabian Davis, they may have more firepower at this time and should prevail.
But in these clashes, facts and logic are thrown out the window and any number can play. It should be two exciting matches at the stadium worth going miles to see.
