CATHERINE HALL, St James — Qualifying for the second end-of-round final in the Red Stripe Premier League is a “fantastic” achievement for Montego Bay United, according to coach Neider Dos Santos.

Promoted Montego Bay United will face first end-of-round qualifiers and leaders Portmore United on Monday at Anthony Spaulding Complex after beating Arnett Gardens, 1-0, in the final second-round game at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Wednesday.

An own goal in the second half gave the home team the win and took them to 21 points in the second round, behind only to Portmore’s 23 points.

Dos Santos told the Observer after the game that advancing to the final was a “fantastic achievement. We are coming from the relegation zone and to go unbeaten the entire second round is a big achievement”.

Montego Bay United have been unbeaten in 12 straight games and has risen to seventh place with 31 points, and interestingly the streak started when they beat Arnett Gardens 2-1 at the end of the first round on November 13th.

On Wednesday, Montego Bay United, spurred on by a sizable crowd, dominated Arnett in the first half with a brilliant display of speed and clinical passing, pegging Arnett back in their own area for long periods and creating 11 chances.

The second half was a mere shadow of the first, however, and was characterised by frequent stoppages and Dos Santos explained that after the pace of the first 45 minutes, “it would be very difficult to maintain that pace”, but said his players still managed “to play safe at the back and also create spaces”.

MBU went in front in the 62nd minute when a shot from Gordon was deflected past Hyatt at his left upright.

Teams:

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Dwayne Ambusley, Keneil Moodie, Kemiro James (Leon Irving – 89th), Allan Ottey (Troy Reid – 78th), Omar Gordon (Graeme Green-81st), Adrian Robinson, Fabian McCarthy, Rohan Bernard, Oliver trail, Jermaine Woozencroft

Subs not used: J Eccleston, T Smith, N Lynch, O Braham

Booked: None

Arnett Gardens — Damion Hyatt, William Richards, Kemar G Brown, Ricardo Smith, Ryan Powell, Jonathon Williams, Rohan Reid, Leon Strickland, Kirk Ramsey, Jason Moore, Fabian Reid

Subs not used: O Dixon, Joel Nicholas, R Williams, V Manning

Booked: Williams – 42nd, Clarke – 54th

Referee: Valdin Ledgister

Assistants: Richard Washington,

Dwayne Panton

Fourth Official: Ali McKenzie

Match Commissary: Sheridan Samuels