Reggae Youths rally to beat Cambridge in St James semis
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Reggae Youths overturned a first-leg deficit to beat Cambridge FC 2-0, while Flankers FC beat Granville United by the same scoreline in their return-leg semi-finals of the St James Football Association Sandals Resorts International Major League on Thursday to set up a meeting in next week’s final.
At the UDC Field Reggae Youths dominated Cambridge FC who played the entire second half with 10 men to overturn their 3-2 loss in the first leg on Sunday at the same venue and won 4-3 on aggregate.
At Flankers the home team beat Granville United for the fourth time this season and increased their aggregate to 4-1 after winning the first leg at Sam Sharpe Teachers College 2-1 on Saturday.
The final is set for February 4th at Wespow Park to start at 3:00 pm.
At UDC, Reggae Youths, who were still smarting from their second loss to Cambridge FC in two weeks, got off to the best start when Sachin Wilmott gave them the lead in only the second minute of the game to draw them level at 3-3 on aggregate.
Cambridge FC, however, rallied and looked to assert themselves but were reduced to 10 men just before halftime when David McLean, one of their more influential players, picked up his second yellow card of the game and was sent off.
With the game appeared heading for extra time, Thomas Scott took full advantage of a mistake by a Cambridge FC defender and was allowed a free run at the goal and beat goalkeeper Marquise Malcolm in the 85th minute.
At Flankers, the home team scored once in either half to secure their spot in the finals and bring Granville United’s hopes to an end.
Adrian Peart scored the first goal in the 41st minute to increase the scores on aggregate to 3-1 and Jermaine Irving added another in the 62nd minute for the final score.
— Paul Reid