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Lucky Palmer goal rescues Harbour View
Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Harbour View's Fabian Taylor (centre) fends off the challenge of Gonzalo Martinez (right) and another DC United player in last night's CONCACAF Club Championships at the Harbour View Mini Stadium. The game ended 1-1. - Ian Allen
HARBOUR VIEW last night dominated second-half action against DC United and were rewarded with an 85th minute equaliser, scrambled in by substitute Lovel Palmer, to draw their first leg CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final match 1-1 at the Harbour View Mini Stadium.
The 'Stars of the East' went behind 1-0, rather unluckily in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, when midfielder Devon McTavish benefited from a shot, which stuck to his thigh, giving him the luxury of turning inside the six-yard box and booting past Dwayne Miller in goal.
DC, fielding their full complement of South Americans, Argentinian midfielder Marcello Gallardo, defender Gonzalo Peralta and Franco Niel, who came on as an 18th minute substitute for Bolivian striker, Jaime Moreno, started strong, pinning Harbour View inside their half.
Playing a 1-3-4-2 formation, DC, the American and 1998 CONCACAF champions, tried to pry apart Harbour View by looping passes over midfield to the Brazilian Fred at left midfield and forward Luciano Emilio on the right.
However, Harbour View held up well under pressure and goalie Miller did well to parry Gallardo's 23rd minute free kick from 22 yards for a corner after central defender Jermaine Taylor pulled down Niel.
Two-footed challenge
Central midfielder Richard Edwards picked up Harbour View's second card 10 minutes later for a two-footed challenge on Fred and things started looking desperate for the homesters.
However, Harbour View's superior conditioning started coming to the fore with Jermaine Hue, Fabian Taylor, Rafeik Thomas and Kemeel Wolfe combining well to break down the visitors' defence.
Taylor got a grand chance to pull Harbour View level in the 37th but turned his shot wide of the far post from just outside the 'D' at the top of the box.
It was somewhat disappointing when the American Major League Soccer champions went ahead just after the fourth official signalled three minutes of time added.
McTavish benefited from a stroke of luck as Gallardo's shot stuck, almost as if glued, to the midfielder, who turned and beat Miller, who got a hand to ball but could not keep out the shot.
Harbour View responded almost immediately but wing-back Robert Scarlett's shot from the left flank was held by goalie Zach Wells at his near post.
Grand chance
The homesters came out roaring in the second half and Birch did well to punch Hue's 53rd minute free kick for a corner.
Palmer came on for Wolfe in the 70th and Harbour View got a grand chance three minutes later when Scarlett sent in a low cross from the left, beating Wells but Thomas, streaking in at the back post, slid in seconds late.
Harbour View's domination of the half continued and paid off five minutes from time when Scarlett's corner to the back post fell among a sea of blue and gold jerseys with Palmer booting into goal.
DC coach Tom Soehn said his team was not match-fit.
"It was our first real game in a while and the team showed a lot of rust," he said.
"Harbour View were fitter than us and that caused us problems," he added.
However, the DC coach promised his team would not be taking any prisoners come next Tuesday at the RFK Stadium in Washington, when the teams meet for the return leg.
"It will be a different situation in our stadium," he said. "We've been on the road for a long time and it will be nice to be home," he added.
Harbour View's Lenny Hyde, whose team has been struggling in fifth place as defending champions of the local Premier League, was beaming with pride after the comeback.
"How we finished the game showed we were confident," he said. "I am very satisfied. The players lifted their game and I have to tip my hat to the team, especially Fabian, who showed guts and determination."
However, Hyde lamented the fact that Wolfe and Thomas were denied visas to travel to Washington next week.
"It's a sour note but we have a rounded squad. Christopher Harvey will be back in defence and we could push Jermaine Taylor into midfield. We want to score early," he said.
The 1-1 draw has the teams on even keel as the away goal rule does not apply for the competition to decide CONCACAF's top club team, which will advance to the prestigious World Club Championship.
Lucky Palmer goal rescues Harbour View
Ainsley Walters, Freelance Writer
Harbour View's Fabian Taylor (centre) fends off the challenge of Gonzalo Martinez (right) and another DC United player in last night's CONCACAF Club Championships at the Harbour View Mini Stadium. The game ended 1-1. - Ian Allen
HARBOUR VIEW last night dominated second-half action against DC United and were rewarded with an 85th minute equaliser, scrambled in by substitute Lovel Palmer, to draw their first leg CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final match 1-1 at the Harbour View Mini Stadium.
The 'Stars of the East' went behind 1-0, rather unluckily in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, when midfielder Devon McTavish benefited from a shot, which stuck to his thigh, giving him the luxury of turning inside the six-yard box and booting past Dwayne Miller in goal.
DC, fielding their full complement of South Americans, Argentinian midfielder Marcello Gallardo, defender Gonzalo Peralta and Franco Niel, who came on as an 18th minute substitute for Bolivian striker, Jaime Moreno, started strong, pinning Harbour View inside their half.
Playing a 1-3-4-2 formation, DC, the American and 1998 CONCACAF champions, tried to pry apart Harbour View by looping passes over midfield to the Brazilian Fred at left midfield and forward Luciano Emilio on the right.
However, Harbour View held up well under pressure and goalie Miller did well to parry Gallardo's 23rd minute free kick from 22 yards for a corner after central defender Jermaine Taylor pulled down Niel.
Two-footed challenge
Central midfielder Richard Edwards picked up Harbour View's second card 10 minutes later for a two-footed challenge on Fred and things started looking desperate for the homesters.
However, Harbour View's superior conditioning started coming to the fore with Jermaine Hue, Fabian Taylor, Rafeik Thomas and Kemeel Wolfe combining well to break down the visitors' defence.
Taylor got a grand chance to pull Harbour View level in the 37th but turned his shot wide of the far post from just outside the 'D' at the top of the box.
It was somewhat disappointing when the American Major League Soccer champions went ahead just after the fourth official signalled three minutes of time added.
McTavish benefited from a stroke of luck as Gallardo's shot stuck, almost as if glued, to the midfielder, who turned and beat Miller, who got a hand to ball but could not keep out the shot.
Harbour View responded almost immediately but wing-back Robert Scarlett's shot from the left flank was held by goalie Zach Wells at his near post.
Grand chance
The homesters came out roaring in the second half and Birch did well to punch Hue's 53rd minute free kick for a corner.
Palmer came on for Wolfe in the 70th and Harbour View got a grand chance three minutes later when Scarlett sent in a low cross from the left, beating Wells but Thomas, streaking in at the back post, slid in seconds late.
Harbour View's domination of the half continued and paid off five minutes from time when Scarlett's corner to the back post fell among a sea of blue and gold jerseys with Palmer booting into goal.
DC coach Tom Soehn said his team was not match-fit.
"It was our first real game in a while and the team showed a lot of rust," he said.
"Harbour View were fitter than us and that caused us problems," he added.
However, the DC coach promised his team would not be taking any prisoners come next Tuesday at the RFK Stadium in Washington, when the teams meet for the return leg.
"It will be a different situation in our stadium," he said. "We've been on the road for a long time and it will be nice to be home," he added.
Harbour View's Lenny Hyde, whose team has been struggling in fifth place as defending champions of the local Premier League, was beaming with pride after the comeback.
"How we finished the game showed we were confident," he said. "I am very satisfied. The players lifted their game and I have to tip my hat to the team, especially Fabian, who showed guts and determination."
However, Hyde lamented the fact that Wolfe and Thomas were denied visas to travel to Washington next week.
"It's a sour note but we have a rounded squad. Christopher Harvey will be back in defence and we could push Jermaine Taylor into midfield. We want to score early," he said.
The 1-1 draw has the teams on even keel as the away goal rule does not apply for the competition to decide CONCACAF's top club team, which will advance to the prestigious World Club Championship.
