Sport

TG, Portmore ready to rumble

By AINSLEY WALTERS, Staff Reporter

Omar Daley - file

INSPIRED BY THEIR rivals, defending champions Tivoli Gardens and Portmore United played the Wray and Nephew Premier League semi-finals as if they were the title-deciders.

Tomorrow, an old but cleaner rivalry will be renewed when both teams meet in the first leg final, starting 7 p.m. at the National Stadium.

There have been no low blows in the press nor stinging rebuttals, only mutual respect with Portmore holding bragging rights after three meetings with Tivoli this season.

However, Tivoli, who started the semi-finals as underdogs, have stuffed that tag right down their critics' throats, beating the league's top-ranked team, Harbour View, 3-1 in the first leg semi-final before Sunday night's 2-1 victory for a 5-2 aggregate score.

The men from west Kingston are looking focused and seem not to miss the presence of the league's top scorer, injured Christopher Nicholas, who watched both semi-final legs from the bench.

Portmore coach Paul Young is wary of the champions even though it was his team that inflicted two of three defeats on them this season, winning their second and third round meetings.

"We're not even going to take that game against Harbour View into consideration," said Young, referring to Tivoli's 2-1 victory over a side that was chasing from the first leg.

Defending champs

"In this league, every team plays the other differently based on players," noted Young. "They're defending champs and won't give up their title. We're going to have to work hard, be aggressive and concentrate for 90 minutes."

Portmore could be without one of Sunday's heroes, Rudolph Austin, who injured himself shortly after rifling a 40-yard free-kick past Richard McCallum, sending his team 2-0 up in their come-from-behind 3-2 aggregate win over Waterhouse.

Midfielder Woolry Wolfe is also doubtful after picking up a knock on his ankle but the remainder of the squad will be sound and ready to face Tivoli.

Victor Thompson's ejection on a second yellow card in the second half will leave Tivoli without a key man-marker, who kept national striker Luton Shelton quiet Sunday night

Nicholas is still on the injury list with a bad groin but Tivoli's midfield, Waheem Walker, and Christopher Jackson have been on top of their games, supplying the speedy Roland Dean with good passes.

Tivoli manager Brian Rose noted that Portmore had a "fantastic" game against Waterhouse.

"To score three goals in a game is saying something," he pointed out. They've beaten us twice this season and we'll be trying to turn the table but we'll have to be cautious of their strike force."

Portmore have been using their Under-21 stars and deep bench with lethal effect this season. Mario Swaby popped up from nowhere with a double Sunday night and Austin was out injured for most of this season.

Portmore's depth was obvious with the likes of Christopher Dawes, Jason Morrison and Omar Daley not being on the match card.

"The key players who were expected to play a major function did not play," noted Rose. "You don't know what strategy they'll be using next."

It will be an interesting match-up with plenty of midfield battles featuring the likes of Tivoli's Steve Green and Walker going up against Portmore's Morrison and any of the Wolfe brothers, Rafei, Woolry or Kemeil.

In defence, Portmore are solid with Anthony Modeste flanked by Leon Williams and Demar Stewart. However, Tivoli will be missing Victor Thompson and his replacement will have to be bring an 'A' game against Portmore's attackers.