Some may perceive it as luck, some as fate for Reno FC as they managed to hold off the Stars of the East in the Flow Champions Cup semi-finals with a disadvantaged team. Throughout the game, Harbour View dominated play winning header after header, enjoying the majority of ball possession, and keeping their goalkeeper, Michaud Barrett, under minimum pressure.
Jermie Lynch opened the scoring just shy of the half-time whistle when he challenged Reno goalkeeper, Dennis Taylor, as he was getting ready to pick up the ball to send to his teammates. The applied pressure had Lynch win the ball and glide past the keeper to gently send it into the now empty goal, giving Harbour View the advantage going into the second half.
The stars didn’t hold on to their lead, as Reno’s super substitute Romaine Lewis was introduced into the game in the second half and scored a well-taken free kick in the 69th minute to level the game.
With less than 20 minutes of regular playing time to go, 46th minute substitute, Linval Wilson of Reno collected his second yellow card in the game and was sent off the field, lifting the hopes of the Harbour View supporters. Harbour View wasn’t able to capitalize on a number of chances at goal, and the 10-man Reno team breathed a small sigh of relief when referee Courtney Campbell blew the full time whistle with the score still locked 1 – 1.
Within the first few minutes of extra time in what seemed almost too good to be true, goalkeeper Dennis Taylor was issued a second caution hence a red card and with all their substitutes used, player Codean Smikle took the responsibility to wear the gloves for the rest of the game leaving Reno now down to 9 men. The foul by the exited goalkeeper resulted in an immediate test for Smikle, as John-Ross Edwards stepped up for a penalty kick. After a few seconds of dialogue between Edwards and the referee about the penalty spot having a dip which the ball kept sitting into, Campbell denied the request for the ball to be moved and ordered it to be played as is. The powerless shot was an easy save for the player-turned-goalie.
The score remained locked 1 – 1 at the end of extra time, forcing the game into a penalty shootout. Reno and their supporters flooded the field in celebration after Harbour View goalkeeper Barrett kicked his shot straight at goalkeeper Smickle who saved, giving Reno the win with 9 – 8 on penalties.
The second semi-final encounter between 2013 Premier League champions Montego Bay United and recently-relegated Portmore United was also forced into penalties after being goalless in full and extra time. It was a nail-biting shootout as both teams consecutively missed a shot, keeping the score leveled. Portmore missed yet another shot, but Montego Bay remained focused and put their next chance away, giving them a 6 – 5 victory.
The Flow Champions Cup final will be between the two Premier League western teams, Reno FC and Montego Bay United on November 16th.