Late equalizer by Reon Nelson salvages a point for leaders Portmore United. Just when we thought it was over, a sudden destruction!
With four minutes of time added by FIFA Referee, Courtney Campbell the slim 1-0 lead of fourth placed Harbour View FC held on strongly in a defensive stance, now reduced to ten men when Ricardo Smith was dismissed after 78 minutes.
The usually competitive fixture between these two former Champions have resulted in two 0-0 ties and both were in search of valuable points towards the end of the third Round, as the newly designed fourth Round with the top six Clubs and the bottom six Clubs are separated.
A midfield battle ensued with more possession going towards Portmore while defensively Harbour View combated favourably launching attacks leading to shots on goal by Jermaine Hue and Kavin Bryan eliciting saves from goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers.
The 0-0 halftime score looked very familiar but was wiped away when a slick three man combination of Rafiek Thomas and Jermaine Hue passes opened the defense of Portmore as Bryan rushed through to sneak the ball pass the advancing Sawyers at his near post after 63 minutes to arouse the crowd.
Almost immediately the host took a deeper defensive stance, inviting the visitors to attack in space provided in midfield but little or no imagination caused any ruffles as the tactic seemed to baffle the league leaders.
However, the task made easier to advance was utilized by Portmore United but still with no real penetration resulted the Harbour View substitutes reflected more defenders than attackers. Firstly Loxely Thomas for Oniel Smith, who received a caution then when Ricardo Smith was ejected he was replaced by Lance Laing as Rafiek Thomas was sacrificed.
Another brutal tackle on Kavin Bryan from the always lucky-to-be-still-on-the-field, Damion Williams called Under 21 central defender, Montrose Phinn into action as another defender reinforced the block of defenders at the back.
Portmore slugged away like a weary boxer looking punch drunk but salvaged one last prayer thrown up to the heavens, when a poorly taken free-kick was won about the half line. Purely out of desperation he punted the ball long up field as it sailed harmlessly into the hands of goalkeeper Dwayne Miller.
To the entire stadiums surprise Miller used both hands to punch the ball away instead of holding it comfortably to run down the few seconds left.
One mistake lead to another as the ball went straight to Reon Nelson just outside the penalty box. He dribbled wider to his right in search of a shot as Captain, Christopher Harvey closing down on him all the time but as Nelson squeezed of the best shot he could under pressure, it squirmed out of the hands of Miller rolling slowly towards the goal line.
Miller grabbed feverishly at it but as it slipped from his grasp finally, it spun at its slowest as it crossed the line to register an all important equalizer in the 90th minute.
Nelson and Portmore United jumped for joy in relief as Miller and Harbour View slumped to the ground in great disbelief that the three points had just vanished and insufficiently replaced by only one. A heart-breaker for the “Stars of the East” as the 14 point gap from the league leader becomes even larger as the end of season draws closer.