NEEDING to win to maintain any hopes of finishing in the top-six of the Digicel Premier League (DPL), Rivoli United collapsed 0-4 to struggling Sporting Central Academy at the Spanish Town Prison Oval on Sunday.

Andre Allen’s 31st-minute goal gave the visitors the lead at the break, followed by strikes from captain Jevaughn Watson (61st), Francois Swaby (73rd) and Levaughn Williams (83rd).

Rivoli striker Devon Hodges was shown the red card in the 63rd minute for violent conduct.

Rivoli finished the round in eighth spot, one behind Portmore United who beat Tivoli 1-0 to jump to seventh with 38 points.

Sporting Central moved to 11th spot with 35 points, the same as August Town and one behind Arnett Gardens.

The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for Rivoli coach Oneil Thomas.

“You cannot be so complacent playing at home, especially against a team that needs points… we only show up against the bigger teams, but when we have the lesser team it’s every man for himself,” he lamented.

After an even start, Rivoli slowly began to gain the ascendancy and had a number of good openings, but failed to take advantage.

However, they fell behind just past the half-hour mark when Allen ran through a crowd of defenders to head Hughan Gray’s corner past Leon Goffe at the near post.

The visitors then grew in confidence afterwards, and four minutes later Watson dribbled through the Rivoli defence before firing just wide of the target.

Goffe then had to block a torrid drive from Gregory Lewis moments later after he exchanged passes with Watson.

Sporting continued where they left off and 16 minutes into the second-half, Watson rose above the Rivoli defence to head home from another corner.

Two minutes later, Rivoli’s frustration mounted and claimed a victim in top marksman Hodges who was ejected for stepping on Dale Watson, after he had fouled the defender.

After that, substitute Swaby netted the third for Sporting after latching on to a neat pass from Williams, before taking the ball past Goffe before firing into the roof of the net.

Seven minutes before the end, Williams got his name on the scoresheet when he received a pass from Swaby and finished off with a low shot in the goal.

Sporting coach Vassell Reynolds said this result was overdue. “We have been playing well all season but not getting the maximum points, so I was pleased with the effort and the four goals,” he said.

Teams:

Rivoli — Leon Goffe, Omar Parker, Ricardo Knight (Owen Barker 74th), Christopher Hayles, Derrick Planter (Devon Powell 86th), Kemar Brown (Luke Soares 64th), David Lewis, Barrington Planter, Kirk Ramsey, Devon Hodges, Fabian Gordon.

Subs not used: M King, C Coke, M Newsome, M Henry

Booked: Hodges (63rd-ejected), Barker (80th)

Sporting Central — Andre Blake, Akeem Anakie, Dale Watson, Gregory Lewis, Christopher Banner, Camaal Reid, Kaydian Wynter, Jevaughn Watson, Jermaine Christian, Hughan Gray, Andre Allen.

Subs not used: D Campbell, M Allen, R Barnes, T Alves, T Huntley

Booked: Allen (42nd), Swaby (59th)

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Kedlee Powell & Antonette Williams

Fourth Official: Karl Tyrell

Match Commissary: Uken Campbell