6 months ago
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ARNETT GARDENS coach Xavier Gilbert is hoping his team can reproduce their second-leg quarter-final performance when they face last season’s beaten finalist Cavalier in one of two Jamaica Premier League (JPL) semi-finals this evening at Sabina Park.
Gilbert said Cavalier, who they have not beaten all season, are tough customers who will present them with many challenges when the teams meet at 5 p.m.
“We want to repeat that type of performance or even go better. When it comes to this stage of the competition, we have to be consistent.
“They are a very tough opposition. We haven’t beaten them all season. They are a very tough team to deal with offensively, and defensively they are very solid.
“So Cavalier is a very stubborn team. They may not play the most attractive football but they know and they find a way to get desired results,” he said.
He noted, however, that they are a team that knows how to score goals, and their main focus will be on not conceding at the other end.
“We don’t want to concede any goals to them this time. They are very good going forward and they have strikers with pace.
“So we have to find a way to stop them and that is what we are focusing on. We fancy our chance of scoring against any opposition because we have done so all season.
“But, on the flip side, we have to find a way to stop conceding goals. So we are focused on that and we will see how best we can execute,” he added.
‘A new game’
Cavalier defeated Arnett 3-0 and drew 2-2 in their two preliminary matches, but Speid believes that is irrelevant at this stage, while noting that the ‘Junglists’ have made some adjustments that they must be mindful of.
“Not beating them all season will not count for anything. It is a new game. Portmore beat them in the preliminary round. So the play-offs are always different. I will not read too much into that. We have to go out again and execute again all over,” he declared.
He added that the Xavier Gilbert-coached Arnett did some things differently in their second-leg quarter-final tie against Portmore, which will give them a lot more difficulties to contend with.
“We noticed they are doing things a bit different, so that will bring some additional challenges.
“But the thing with our team is we can play both ways. We can play how we normally play and we can adjust. So the versatility of our team and being able to execute are two of our biggest assets.
“So we have been preparing for anything that they may come with.
“But, beside the fact that we are a bit rusty, as long as we do not get a negative result we will be satisfied for the first leg,” he said.
In the second game at 8 p.m., defending champions Mount Pleasant face against underdogs and nemesis Waterhouse.
Mount Pleasant have a win and a draw against the Drewsland-based outfit and will start favourites.
However, Waterhouse have been the St Ann club’s bogey team over the years and, after their quarter-final win over the more-fancied Tivoli Gardens, they cannot be taken lightly.
Waterhouse will look to the likes of goalkeeper Kemar Foster, leading scorer Javane Bryan, Andre Fletcher, Revaldo Mitchell and Denardo Thomas to lead them to victory.
The star-studded Mount Pleasant will pin their hopes on goalkeeper Shaquan Davis, Suelae McCalla, Demario Phillips, Kimoni Bailey, Oquassa Chong, Shaqueil Bradford, and Daniel Green.
English (US) ·