Having recovered from the flu last week to setup two goals for SNLA, to draw 2-2 then later, get knockout on Penalties, a fitter Kavin Bryan started the new season alongside HVFC striker, Andre Fagan as the former HVFC strike-partnership grabbed the early lead.
Long An vs SLNA 2-2!
For the second straight match, SLNA surrendered a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Long An in their opening game of the 2011 V-League.
Kavin Bryan scored a goal in each half. His second actually came minutes after SLNA was reduced to 10 men when central defender, Brasilian Helio Assis was shown a straight red card for bringing down an attacker who had broken away to goal. Long An struck the crossbar with the resulting freekick.
Long An striker, Tanzanian Danny Mrwanda, brought them back into the match with a spectacular overhead kick. Then Bryan was substituted for Devon Hodges, suffering from cramps. Soon after, SLNA carelessly lost the ball in midfield and Long An’s Brazilian substitute, Alberto Carlos Rodrigues, found the equaliser from a cross.
Kavin’s goals were well taken. The first was the result of a breakaway started by Harbour View FC, Teammate Andre Fagan who passed to Ghanaian Edmund Owusu-Ansah breaking on his right while Bryan broke on his left. Edmund’s cross was met one-time by Bryan, his first goal to start his V-League career.
The second goal was a looping header from a freekick on the right that left the goalkeeper flat-footed. Fagan and Hodges did their part in trying to keep possession and to minimise the Long An attacks, but the teams defensive play would breakdown to give up two goals and a share of the points.
Good start for all the three Jamaicans!
Bryan is the early goal-scoring leader for the league.