Down to the wire

Ryon Jones, Gleaner Writer

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) four-team play-off was thrown wide open yesterday, after Benfica registered a surprise 1-0 win over Reno at Frome Sports Complex and Cavalier played to a 1-1 draw with Meadows at Ferdie Neita Park.

Eastern Confederation champions Benfica, who had lost their first two matches in the play-off series, continued their resurgence by registering their second consecutive victory. Damion James scored the all-important goal in the 58th minute to move Benfica to seven points, the same as Reno.

Cavalier have now taken over sole leadership of standings with eight points, after settling for a draw against Meadows, who remain at the foot of the standings on five points.

Cavalier should have taken the lead in the ninth minute when Demetrio Billett's cross found the unmarked Donovan Alvaranga. But he totally miscued his shot from eight yards out, sending it well wide of the goal.

Meadows soon came into their own and dominated the rest of the half, but were reduced to long-range efforts before a neat exchange of passes between Orville Newell and Jason Vassell in the 40th minute saw them breach the Cavalier defence. But with only the keeper to beat, Newell's effort was tame.

Cavalier took the lead three minutes into the second half when Billett picked up a ball in his own half before playing a delightful cross-field pass which found Locksley Thompson, who expertly lobbed the outrushing Benfica custodian, Damion Herreria, to score.

Meadows refused to give up and deservingly equalised in the 63rd minute, when a short corner was played to Sivaun Scott on the top of the area, allowing him to unleash a cracking shot which rocketed into the back of the net.

The South Central Confederation champions controlled the remainder of the match and should have sealed the win in the 85th minute when Vassell found himself unmarked on the back post, but his powerful drive went agonisingly wide.

Deserving win

Meadows' coach, Christopher Russell, believes his team deserved to have won.

"I thought we should have won the game; we deserved to win," said Russell. "The goal (conceded) was just the one error, but I thought we had the better of the match. We had several chances to score but, unfortunately, we just didn't score, but with this type of spirit anything is still possible."

Lamar Morgan, coach of Cavalier, thought they should have won.

"I can't be disappointed about the boys' performance but at the same time, the result," said Morgan. "I think we should have come away with a 1-0 victory."