Montego Bay United…………3

Williams (10th, 50th), St Fleur-24th

Rivoli United…,,,,,,,,0

TUCKER, St James — Despite what appeared to most who were in attendance at Wespow Park on Sunday to witness the first ever Red Stripe Premier League game at the venue, to be a comfortable win for home team Montego Bay United over Rivoli FC in their first ever meeting at this level, coach Donovan Duckie was leaving nothing to chance.

Even with minutes left on the clock and promoted Rivoli already conceded their second loss of the season, Duckie was feverishly still directing traffic and barking orders to his players.

Dino Williams’ double strike, including what must be a ‘goal-of-the-year’ entry early in the second half, steered Montego Bay United to a comfortable 3-0 win over Rivoli in their first round game as the Montego Bay club maintain their perfect win record at home. Williams also set up Lesly St Fleur for the second goal.

Both teams finished the game with 10 players after Rivoli’s Liston James was shown his second yellow card in the 63rd minute and was dismissed by referee Dwight Royal, while Evon Taylor who made his debut for MBU coming on in the 62nd minute to replace Ronaldo Rodne was sent off in time added on after a clash that left Devon Hodges flat on the ground writhing in pain.

In a post-game interview, Duckie explained to the Jamaica Observer that he was trying to change the mindset of the Montego Bay United team that sit in second place on 10 points, two behind leaders Humble Lion.

“We can’t handle a lead,” he told the Observer, mindful of a loss to Tivoli Gardens in the quarter-finals of the Flow Champions Cup Knockout and giving up a 2-0 lead at Boys’ Town in their previous Premier League game and coming away with a point.

“Since the Boys’ Town game all we have been working on is tactical, physical and mental aspects of the game and there is still a lot of work to be done,” he said. “This is a good team but they need to keep their focus.”

Rivoli’s Calvert Fitzgerald did not make any excuses for his team’s loss, describing it as “a self-inflicted loss…we were poor defensively and pretty much scored all three goals”.

Despite sudden and heavydownpour that started in the first half then eased up by the start of the second half, Montego Bay United dominated and were up two nil in the first 24 minutes but it is the third goal that those who saw it will be talking about.

Williams, who is starting the Premier League from the first week for the first time in several years and who got his first goal in the 2-2 draw at Boys’ Town, was trapped at the edge of the 18-yard area by goalkeeper Marlon Henry who had left his line in the 50th minute. However, with his back to the goal and while falling to the ground under the pressure from Henry, Williams lobbed the ball over his head then turned to watch as it fell a few feet inside the left upright and bounced high into the net as defenders desperately tried to keep it out

Williams sent the home team ahead in the 10th minute under bright sunshine when he latched on to a pass from the left and powered it past Henry into he goal.

Fourteen minutes later in driving rain, St Fleur finished off a brilliant solo move from Williams, who dribbled through the Rivoli defence to the touch line before crossing back to the middle for St Fleur to easily finish off by beating the hapless Henry.

Rivoli should have pulled one back in the 42nd minute after Hodges, who was just marginally onside, shot just wide of a wide open MBU goal.

Any recovery by Rivoli was killed off early in the second half when Williams sent his team 3-0 up, but it took quick reaction by the MBU defence in the 55th minute to clear the ball off the line after goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett had failed to hold on.

Despite going a man down after James was sent off, Rivoli created several scoring chances but Julian Nugent, who replaced Fidel Anderson in the 67th, fired straight to the goalkeeper in the 84th minute when he had time to chose a spot to kick at.

An acrobatic reflex save three minutes into time added on by Barrett also kept Rivoli off the score sheet; the goalkeeper had committed to his right when the shot curled to his left but he stuck out his left hand and swatted the ball away for a coner.

Teams:

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Lacon Brissett (Winston Wilkinson-38th), Ladale Richie, Cordel Simpson, Orlando McBayne, Ronaldo Rodney (Evan Taylor-90+), Allan Ottey, Keneil Kirlew, Kemiro James, Lesly St Fleur (Fabian McCarthy-81st), Dino Williams.

Subs not used: Romaine Jones, Omar Gordon, Jeffroy Leslie, Graeme Green

Booked: Taylor (ejected – 90+)

Rivoli United — Marlon Henry, Jermaine Henry, Liston James, Kenny Lee, Kevin Graham, Raymond Williamson, Davion Garrison, Mario Harrison, Marcelino Blackburn (Corey Burke-68th), Devon Hodges, Fidel Anderson (Julian Nugent-67th).

Subs not used: Shannon Bartley, Troy Moulton, Barrington Planter, Michael Blygen, Anthony Greenland

Booked: James (45th, 63rd-ejected), Hodges (58th), Blackburn (59th)

Referee: Dwight Royal

Assistants: Kedlee Powell, Princess Brown

Fourth Official: Veralton Nembhard

Match Commissary: Fitzroy Reid

MBU beat Rivoli-D