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Harbour View must do or die in DC
published: Tuesday | March 18, 2008
Gordon Williams, Contributor
Harbour View's captain Fabian Taylor (centre) dribbles away from Gonzalo Martinez (right) and midfielder Clyde Simms in last Wednesday night's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final at the Harbour View Mini Stadium. The game ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WASHINGTON DC, United States:
Harbour View are expected to make a few line-up changes - at least two forced - when they tackle American club DC United in the do-or-die second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup 7:30 p.m. (6:30p.m. local time) tonight at the RFK Stadium here.
But the current Jamaica and Caribbean football champions are standing pat with the style that earned them a 1-1 draw last Wednesday in Kingston, claiming that adequate replacements will be available and there is little need to change a successful approach.
"We're in good shape," said coach Lenworth Hyde Snr "We've got a lot of good players to choose from."
With starting midfielder Kemeel Wolfe and striker Rafiek Thomas both absent after being denied visas to enter the United States, Hyde is likely to call on two national representatives, forward Kavin Bryan and midfielder Lovell Palmer, to replace them. Both played as substitutes last week and Palmer scored the late equaliser for Harbour View.
Other contenders
Forwards Kemar Petrekin and Marcelino Blackburn, whose recent form has pleased the coaches, are in contention for playing time as well. So too midfielder Keith Kelly, who also appeared as a substitute in the first leg.
In addition, defender Christopher Harvey, another national player, is expected among the starters after completing a suspension earned from his ejection in an earlier round match.
Meanwhile, worry over the condition of Richard Edwards, who was forced to leave the game last week with an upper thigh injury after being stomped on by a DC United player, has eased. The forceful midfielder, a key to Harbour View's successful pressure-oriented approach which unsettled DC United - like Harbour View's entire squad - has been declared ready for tonight's match. That has buoyed the confidence of the Jamaican contingent.
"We expect (Edwards) and everybody to be match fit," said the club's general manager, Clyde Jureidini. "Everybody will have their hands up to play."
Hyde said Harbour View will stick to its 4-4-2 formation that worked well in Kingston. But he warned that his team must improve its ball possession tonight as he is expecting DC United to step up the tempo, especially because the multiple Major League Soccer champions are playing at home.
"They are a quality team," said Hyde, who acknowledged that DC United were dogged by pre-season rust last week.
"Their condition must improve. We are aware of that. We have to keep ball possession. We have to be aggressive when they have the ball. They'll come with hard running. I don't know how long they can keep it up."
Hyde will stick with attacking through the flanks, with wingbacks Robert Scarlett and Ronny Amaguana hoping to again trouble DC United. He is also banking on influential playmaker Jermaine Hue to turn his creative midfield licence into goal-scoring form.
"My thing is that he (Hue) is a player that has freedom," the coach explained. "I'm telling him that he needs to score goals. I want him to create more spaces to shoot."
SIMILAR IDEAS
DC United coach Tom Soehn has similar ideas. While Harbour View performed as expected, Soehn described his team's showing in Kingston as disappointing.
"(Harbour View) played as anticipated," he said yesterday. "The only surprise for me is that we weren't very good technically."
DC United have problems of their own. Star striker Jaime Moreno, who left last week's game early with a hamstring strain, "more than likely will be out for tonight's game," Soehn said.
Following a morning practice yesterday, the coach believes his club is in much better physical and technical shape. The RFK Stadium playing surface, which he described as being "one of the best we've seen it," should also suit the American club's passing game better than the Harbour View Mini Stadium. Again, veteran Argentine playmaker Marcelo Gallardo will be the key for DC United.
After being on the road for a long spell during pre-season, DC United are also welcoming a return home where their fans can be relied on to give them a significant boost.
"The atmosphere in our home field is fantastic," Soehn said.
Yet, despite acknowledging that DC United must do better keeping ball possession than they did last week, the coach was not ready to reveal any tactical adjustments for tonight's match.
"It will be 10 players and goalie," Soehn said when asked about his club's approach.
Since there is no away goal rule, the game will go into extra time and penalty kicks if the scores remain level.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
published: Tuesday | March 18, 2008
Gordon Williams, Contributor
Harbour View's captain Fabian Taylor (centre) dribbles away from Gonzalo Martinez (right) and midfielder Clyde Simms in last Wednesday night's CONCACAF Champions Cup quarter-final at the Harbour View Mini Stadium. The game ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
WASHINGTON DC, United States:
Harbour View are expected to make a few line-up changes - at least two forced - when they tackle American club DC United in the do-or-die second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup 7:30 p.m. (6:30p.m. local time) tonight at the RFK Stadium here.
But the current Jamaica and Caribbean football champions are standing pat with the style that earned them a 1-1 draw last Wednesday in Kingston, claiming that adequate replacements will be available and there is little need to change a successful approach.
"We're in good shape," said coach Lenworth Hyde Snr "We've got a lot of good players to choose from."
With starting midfielder Kemeel Wolfe and striker Rafiek Thomas both absent after being denied visas to enter the United States, Hyde is likely to call on two national representatives, forward Kavin Bryan and midfielder Lovell Palmer, to replace them. Both played as substitutes last week and Palmer scored the late equaliser for Harbour View.
Other contenders
Forwards Kemar Petrekin and Marcelino Blackburn, whose recent form has pleased the coaches, are in contention for playing time as well. So too midfielder Keith Kelly, who also appeared as a substitute in the first leg.
In addition, defender Christopher Harvey, another national player, is expected among the starters after completing a suspension earned from his ejection in an earlier round match.
Meanwhile, worry over the condition of Richard Edwards, who was forced to leave the game last week with an upper thigh injury after being stomped on by a DC United player, has eased. The forceful midfielder, a key to Harbour View's successful pressure-oriented approach which unsettled DC United - like Harbour View's entire squad - has been declared ready for tonight's match. That has buoyed the confidence of the Jamaican contingent.
"We expect (Edwards) and everybody to be match fit," said the club's general manager, Clyde Jureidini. "Everybody will have their hands up to play."
Hyde said Harbour View will stick to its 4-4-2 formation that worked well in Kingston. But he warned that his team must improve its ball possession tonight as he is expecting DC United to step up the tempo, especially because the multiple Major League Soccer champions are playing at home.
"They are a quality team," said Hyde, who acknowledged that DC United were dogged by pre-season rust last week.
"Their condition must improve. We are aware of that. We have to keep ball possession. We have to be aggressive when they have the ball. They'll come with hard running. I don't know how long they can keep it up."
Hyde will stick with attacking through the flanks, with wingbacks Robert Scarlett and Ronny Amaguana hoping to again trouble DC United. He is also banking on influential playmaker Jermaine Hue to turn his creative midfield licence into goal-scoring form.
"My thing is that he (Hue) is a player that has freedom," the coach explained. "I'm telling him that he needs to score goals. I want him to create more spaces to shoot."
SIMILAR IDEAS
DC United coach Tom Soehn has similar ideas. While Harbour View performed as expected, Soehn described his team's showing in Kingston as disappointing.
"(Harbour View) played as anticipated," he said yesterday. "The only surprise for me is that we weren't very good technically."
DC United have problems of their own. Star striker Jaime Moreno, who left last week's game early with a hamstring strain, "more than likely will be out for tonight's game," Soehn said.
Following a morning practice yesterday, the coach believes his club is in much better physical and technical shape. The RFK Stadium playing surface, which he described as being "one of the best we've seen it," should also suit the American club's passing game better than the Harbour View Mini Stadium. Again, veteran Argentine playmaker Marcelo Gallardo will be the key for DC United.
After being on the road for a long spell during pre-season, DC United are also welcoming a return home where their fans can be relied on to give them a significant boost.
"The atmosphere in our home field is fantastic," Soehn said.
Yet, despite acknowledging that DC United must do better keeping ball possession than they did last week, the coach was not ready to reveal any tactical adjustments for tonight's match.
"It will be 10 players and goalie," Soehn said when asked about his club's approach.
Since there is no away goal rule, the game will go into extra time and penalty kicks if the scores remain level.
Gordon Williams is a Jamaican journalist based in the United States.
Really now!? Someting tell me is not just me one miss it.
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