GOALS from Jason Vassell (31st minute) and Ross Burton (50th) in either half carried Meadows of St Catherine to a 2-0 win over 10-man Benfica FC to kick-start the Premeir League play-off series at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday.

Benfica’s Shamir Stewart was given his marching orders in the 85th minute.

The Spanish Town-based club joins Reno at the top of the four-team standings after the Westemoreland side stopped KSAFA representative Cavalier by the same score at Frome Complex.

Meadows’ coach Christopher Russell said his team could not have hoped for a better start to the tournament.

“This was a gutsy performance, more than anything else… and Benfica gave us a run for our money, but this win gives us the confidence to go up to Cavalier and try to get something out of that game,” he said.

It was a shaky start to the game by both teams, with the visitors looking as if they would settle first.

However, the home team took the lead after a nervous start when Newell capitalised on a defensive blunder and placed a firm, low strike past Ravel Wilson in the Benfica goal.

Ricardo Scott had the best chance to pull a goal back for Benfica before the break, but he failed to connect with Brian Wollaston’s cross minutes later.

As both teams struggled to impose themselves on the contest in the second half, Meadows went further ahead when defender Andre Dixon miskicked a ball, sending Burton through on goal, and the lanky striker calmly slotted home from 12 yards to put his side 2-0 up.

The visitors took control of midfield and had a few good half-chances through Gregory Tape and a free-kick from Wollaston, which was saved by the goalkeeper.

Five minutes before the end, Stewart was sent off by referee Wilverglen Lamey after he elbowed an opponent in an off-the-ball incident.

Meadows had to fend off a wave of attacks from the visitors at the close to keep their two-goal advantage to the final whistle.

Benfica’s coach Rohan Alexander said his players came into the game over-confident. However, he insists that their chances are still as good as any other team in the contest.

“We are not giving up, but we still have a lot of weak points to work on… our next game will be at home, so we’re going to see if we can score early and push back Reno,” he said.

— Livingston Scott