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Glenmuir rally, Rusea’s cruise at STETHS
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-large South-Central Bureau
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Defending champions Glenmuir resurged in the final 21 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw with Munro College, and many-time champions Rusea’s marched past Clarendon College 3-1 at STETHS to reach Saturday’s semifinals of the daCosta Cup.
In the opening game, Clarendon scored against the run-of play in the 24th minute through Shanray Morris. But a rampant Rusea’s replied with a vengeance in the second half through Damain Thompson from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, Roydel Moncriefe in the 59th and substitute Oshando Parnell in the 90th.
Then, in an enthralling feature, Munro’s Jermaine Samms gave his side a 29th-minute lead and teammate Gishard Lloyd appeared to have buried Glenmuir with a second goal in the 64th.
But the defending champions, boasting a number of national agegroup players, turned on the quality in the final quarter to draw level through substitute and national agegroup striker Draion McNain in the 69th and skipper James Thomas in the 80th.
Before a large crowd in blazing sunshine, Rusea’s did most of the pressing, with Clarendon dependent on the counter. It was from one such counter-attack that Morris ran onto a long ball and headed past goalkeeper Mario Distin.
But Rusea’s, repeatedly guilty of wasting good chances, finally got it right from the penalty spot, Thompson slotting home after striker Rodell Mocriefe was brought down.
Moncriefe made it 2-1 when he charged through the middle to ram home Horace Maxwell’s right-side cross following a slick dribble. Rusea’s should have gone two goals clear after the tricky Maxwell was brought down in the box. But Thompson’s thunderous penalty was superbly blocked by goalkeeper Kirk Harris.
Rusea’s completed a satisfying afternoon at the death — Parnell fighting off defenders to guide the ball home.
In the second game Munro, needing to win to reach the semis, started in attack mode against the star-studded defending champions.
But it was Glenmuir with the first real goal scoring chance — Thomas’s expert header following a slick attacking move, being pushed high by goalkeeper Errol Reid.
With Glenmuir appearing almost nonchalant and apparently satisfied to sit back, a pressing Munro struck hard. A bustling, hustling Samms won the ball in-between defenders and sped away from the chasing pack to slide the ball home past goalkeeper Kristopher Lewis.
A minute later, Munro could have scored a second, but Javid Genus, twisting and turning at the edge of the penalty box, saw his right-foot shot blocked by a diving Lewis.
Glenmuir showed more purpose in the second half — the deft dribbling of Trevol Smith creating openings. But they appeared doomed when Lloyd’s long, speculative shot from wide on the right caught Lewis off his line.
The ball eluded the goalkeeper’s despairing leap to find the back of the net, sparking huge celebrations among the Munro ‘massive’.
But Glenmuir kept their composure and scored five minutes later. Ricardo Webb’s low cross following a dribble down the left was mishandled by Reid for McNain to poke home.
Thomas was then sent clear by a delightful chipped pass from McNain to hammer home with an unstoppable left-foot drive to draw his team level.
BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-large South-Central Bureau
SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — Defending champions Glenmuir resurged in the final 21 minutes to earn a 2-2 draw with Munro College, and many-time champions Rusea’s marched past Clarendon College 3-1 at STETHS to reach Saturday’s semifinals of the daCosta Cup.
In the opening game, Clarendon scored against the run-of play in the 24th minute through Shanray Morris. But a rampant Rusea’s replied with a vengeance in the second half through Damain Thompson from the penalty spot in the 51st minute, Roydel Moncriefe in the 59th and substitute Oshando Parnell in the 90th.
Then, in an enthralling feature, Munro’s Jermaine Samms gave his side a 29th-minute lead and teammate Gishard Lloyd appeared to have buried Glenmuir with a second goal in the 64th.
But the defending champions, boasting a number of national agegroup players, turned on the quality in the final quarter to draw level through substitute and national agegroup striker Draion McNain in the 69th and skipper James Thomas in the 80th.
Before a large crowd in blazing sunshine, Rusea’s did most of the pressing, with Clarendon dependent on the counter. It was from one such counter-attack that Morris ran onto a long ball and headed past goalkeeper Mario Distin.
But Rusea’s, repeatedly guilty of wasting good chances, finally got it right from the penalty spot, Thompson slotting home after striker Rodell Mocriefe was brought down.
Moncriefe made it 2-1 when he charged through the middle to ram home Horace Maxwell’s right-side cross following a slick dribble. Rusea’s should have gone two goals clear after the tricky Maxwell was brought down in the box. But Thompson’s thunderous penalty was superbly blocked by goalkeeper Kirk Harris.
Rusea’s completed a satisfying afternoon at the death — Parnell fighting off defenders to guide the ball home.
In the second game Munro, needing to win to reach the semis, started in attack mode against the star-studded defending champions.
But it was Glenmuir with the first real goal scoring chance — Thomas’s expert header following a slick attacking move, being pushed high by goalkeeper Errol Reid.
With Glenmuir appearing almost nonchalant and apparently satisfied to sit back, a pressing Munro struck hard. A bustling, hustling Samms won the ball in-between defenders and sped away from the chasing pack to slide the ball home past goalkeeper Kristopher Lewis.
A minute later, Munro could have scored a second, but Javid Genus, twisting and turning at the edge of the penalty box, saw his right-foot shot blocked by a diving Lewis.
Glenmuir showed more purpose in the second half — the deft dribbling of Trevol Smith creating openings. But they appeared doomed when Lloyd’s long, speculative shot from wide on the right caught Lewis off his line.
The ball eluded the goalkeeper’s despairing leap to find the back of the net, sparking huge celebrations among the Munro ‘massive’.
But Glenmuir kept their composure and scored five minutes later. Ricardo Webb’s low cross following a dribble down the left was mishandled by Reid for McNain to poke home.
Thomas was then sent clear by a delightful chipped pass from McNain to hammer home with an unstoppable left-foot drive to draw his team level.