Dunbeholden and Portmore complete Lynk Cup semis
KINGSTON, Jamaica— Dunbeholden FC and Portmore United completed the semi-finals of the Lynk Cup knock-out after hard-fought wins over Tivoli Gardens and Molynes United in Thursday’s return legs of their quarterfinal ties at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston.
Dunbeholden won 4-3 on sudden death penalties after they overcame a first leg 2-0 deficit to beat Tivoli Gardens 2-0 after regulation and extra time, while Portmore United won 4-3 on aggregate after Thursday’s game ended in a 2-2 draw.
They will meet Cavalier FC and Harbour View in the semi-finals.
Odane Samuels scored two spectacular goals, his first at the senior club level to pull Dunbeholden level on aggregate.
The defender fired home his first in the 28th minute from about 40 yards and curled a ball past goalkeeper Kewong Atkins in the 84th minute.
The second goal came after a hotly disputed penalty had been awarded to Dunbeholden by referee Odette Hamilton who then changed her mind after consulting with one of her assistants.
After failing to score in added time, Dunbeholden, who lost in the Premier League final last season on penalties, won despite three straight saves in regulation penalties by Watkins.
In the first game, Portmore United, who led 2-1 from the first game, held on despite a late rush by Molynes.
Chevaughn Walsh’s double in the third and 63rd minutes giving Portmore a 4-1 lead seemed to have sewn up the tie but Molynes roared back with a double from Nicholas Nelson in the 75th and 87th minutes to set up a tense last few minutes.
-Paul A Reid