Montego Bay United advanced to their third consecutive final after playing to a 2-2 draw with Arnett Gardens in their second-leg semi-final to win 4-3 on aggregate at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex last evening.

Arnett Gardens snatched a stoppage time goal to win 2-1 in regulation time, thus forcing the game into extra time with the tie levelled 3-3 on aggregate.

Cory Hylton had given Montego Bay United the lead on the stroke of half time, turning in the ball from a free kick to silence the Arnett Gardens faithful in the 45th minute.

It was a big moment in the tie as seconds earlier, Arnett Gardens had appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty kick after Vishinul Harris had gone down in the penalty box and referee Kevin Morrison waved play on.

But with time running out, Harris was fouled in the penalty area and this time referee Morrison obliged and Kemal Malcolm calmly converted the penalty in the 83rd minute. Then with basically the last kick of the game, Harris returned to ram home from close range in the 90th+5 minutes, though television replays indicated that captain Oneil Thompson appeared to have used his left arm to keep the ball alive for Harris to extend the game.

Malcolm missed a good chance at the start of extra time before substitute Kashief Brown benefited from some poor defending to slot home in the 113th minute after goalkeeper Damian Hyatt failed to collect cleanly a long clearance from opposing goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett.

Montego Bay United now await the winner of tonight’s second semi-final between Humble Lion and Portmore United. Humble Lion hold a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.

In front of a packed Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, the home team, trailing 1-2 from the first leg, started brightly, bossing possession and clearly looking the more menacing of the teams.

In the ninth minute Harris fired over the bar from well inside the box after the ball pin-balled around in a melee. That was a crucial miss as Arnett Gardens knew they would have to score the first goal of the game.

So intense were Arnett Gardens’ relentless attacks that after 20 minutes Montego Bay United had not even ventured into their opponents’ penalty box. It took the visitors 40 minutes before they registered a shot on goal as Owayne Gordon brought a fine save from Hyatt.

But on the stroke of half time the team from western Jamaica broke the deadlock and Arnett Gardens’ hearts as Hylton glanced a header into the far corner of the goal

But Arnett Gardens persevered and never gave up, scoring twice in the last seven minutes, sending the game into extra time.

Teams: Arnett Gardens —Damian Hyatt, Oneil Thompson, Jaber Johnson, Dicoy Williams, Renae Lloyd (Jason Moore 9th) Kenniel Hyde, Marvin Morgan, Vishinul Harris, Michealos Martin (Newton Sterling 76th), Kemal Malcolm, Leon Strickland (Marcelino Blackburn 62nd).

Subs not used: Peter Harrison, Ranike Anderson, Neicko Williams, Jamar Jackson.

Booked: Malcolm (26th), Johnson (45th).

Montego Bay United — Jacomeno Barrett, Lesley St Fleur, Orlando McBayne (Donovan Carey 76th), Ladale Richie, Kemal Drake, Dwayne Ambusley, Keniel Kirlew, Ronaldo Rodney (Kashief Brown 90th), Cory Hylton (Jermaine Woozencroft 84th) Allan Ottey, Owayne Gordon.

Subs not used: David Swaby, Nicodie Haughton, Winston Wilkinson, Fabian McCarthy.

Booked: Kirlew (53rd).

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Lloyd Reader, Stephanie Dale-Yeeshing

Fourth Official: Odette Hamilton

Match Commissary: Ewan Scott