1 day ago
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Racing United climbed to the top of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) despite playing to a goalless draw with Harbour View at Ferdi Neita Park yesterday.
Racing and Montego Bay United, who lost 1-0 to Waterhouse, are tied on 26 points, but Racing have a superior goal difference.
The new league leaders had numerous opportunities to score but were wasteful and had to settle for the point.
Racing have tasted defeat just once in 13 matches, and coach Anthony Patrick said the objective is to keep their consistency going and stay atop the standings for as long as they possibly can.
“The aim is to finish in the top six, but if other teams put their feet wrong, maybe we can finish in the top two. But the aim is to finish top six.
“We want to keep this momentum going. We are there (top of the league) and anybody that wants it has to beat us,” he said.
Racing controlled the first half and had the better of the opportunities, with the best chances falling to Tajay Gayle.
Thirty minutes into the half, the midfielder found space in the box but was denied by an excellent stop from goalkeeper Garwin Davis.
Later in the half, he broke away but elected to shoot with his right when the angle was totally against him, and the chance went abegging.
In the first minute of the second half, Mikyle Williams should have given Racing the lead but he chose to pass, when he only had goalkeeper Davis to beat.
Tyrone Mullings then had two great strikes, moments apart. The first deflected just wide, while the other required a save from Davis from 12 yards out.
Williams also had two great chances himself, within minutes. In the 68th minute he was clean through but was indecisive and allowed Davis to smother his effort.
A minute later he broke away inside the box but fired over the bar.
Trevonne Reid had a rare opportunity to put the visitors ahead a couple minutes later, but his attempt was blocked by a Racing defender.
Racing threw everything forward in search of the winner and got numerous openings late in the game but were unable to take any, with Gayle and Williams putting chances over.
“Harbour View came to get a point out of the game and we played right into their hands,” Patrick added. “We made some changes and got a little lift, but it went back down quickly and we had to settle for a draw.”
Harbour View coach Vassell Reynolds, who is unbeaten in four starts since replacing Bjorn Thomas, said the aim was to at least take a point.
‘We did some tweaking, and the main aim was to get a point out of this game. We knew Racing are the form team and were blazing in terms of performance and results, so we put a lot of work into this one. Two clean sheets in a row. It was a gutsy performance and maybe we could have scored one in the latter stages, but we are satisfied with the point,” he said.
Harbour View are eighth in the table on 14 points.
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