HARBOUR View's manager Clyde Jureidini has blamed his side's exit from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on poor defending following Tuesday's 0-5 hammering by MLS outfit DC United in their return-leg quarter-final in Washington.
DC United progressed to the semi-final stages of the competition 6-1 on aggregate.

"DC United performed much better on their home turf; much more organised, much more deliberate, and their execution when in attack was much better," Jureidini told the Observer yesterday.

He admitted his Jamaican charges lost concentration under pressure after twice conceding within the first 65 minutes.

"The second goal... in minute 63 broke the spirit of the players and they had... to commit themselves to all-out attack... in doing that we lost our shape defensively... and conceded two other quick goals," the veteran football administrator added, noting that the match was essentially over at that point.

"... We were eliminated by a superior team on the night who used their dominance to convert to goals in their favour, whereas when we played here, we only scored once," Jureidini explained.

DC United, the 1998 Champions Cup winners, will now face the winners of the Pachuca CF (Mexico) and CD Motagua (Honduras) quarter-final second-leg, which was scheduled to be played last night.

The 'Stars of the East' now turn their attention to the Cash Plus Premier League (CPPL), where they are currently fifth in the standings with 38 points - 14 behind leaders Tivoli Gardens (52).

"That competitiveness needs to be brought forward in the league as we try and make up that space on the four teams in front of us, (but) for the longer term the All-Island Knockout and similarly we have to look to make amends and do better there," added Jureidini.

Harbour View's next overseas assignment will be the inaugural 24-team CONCACAF Champions League in August.

"... We're going to have to raise our local and international game again come this summer, just ahead of the start of the 2008-2009 Premier League season," he said.

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World