This morning, Manager Clyde Jureidini went to a radio interview with Liaison Officer, Thompson Hew, and Phil Johnson from Academy Sports Club in Cayman at the IRIE FM Station from 8:10 – 8:45am. Rest was primary for the boys, as they had a late night as played the last game of the previous day, so they slept in to recover. The team visited the McDonald’s Restaurant and Sports Bar for breakfast after they awakened. The team moved to our new Cayman residence at the Prospect Youth Centre of United Church where lunch was later delivered. From there, a coaches luncheon was attended by Coach Vin Blaine and Clyde Jureidini, but our 4:45pm opening game meant hustling for time.
Starting Eleven:
GK: Ricardo Laing
Defense: Kristoper McDonald (left back), JahHari White (center half), Noel Walker (center half), Shaqkeil Campbell (right back)
Midfield: Romaye Davis (defensive), Shawn Daley (defensive), Oquasso Chong (attacking)
Forward: Ronaldo Robinson (left), Kellijah Morgan(centre), Kafui Douet (right)
Substitutes:
Trevaughn Irwin (GK), Sean-Michael McIntosh (replaced Kafui Douet), Rojaughn Joseph (replaced Shawn Daley), Junior Parker, Matthew Bell (replaced Kellijah Morgan), Javain Green, Andrade Wright.
An early goal scored against us as we were a little slow in settling. The Hotspurs’ central midfielder dribbled all the way goal-ward to slot home his strike in the very first minute. We responded immediately, as an infringement against Morgan outside the area led to a 22-yard beautiful left-sided strike by Oquasso Chong that deflected from the near post and inside, game leveled 1-1.
Both teams exchanged possession until the mandated 1-minute water break was enforced mid-way in the first half as requested by Tottenham Hotspurs. The second quarter of the half resumed with HVFC on the hunt, as Chong and Robinson flashed shots wide of the mark. Robinson won a back-pass and drove a thunderous left-footer from 20 yards as the goalkeeper deflected it onto the upright, but it unfortunately came out of the goal mouth. Halftime saw the game locked at 1 – 1.
The second half started with Morgan releasing Robinson down the left flank, but he narrowly missed an opportunity to take the lead early on in the second half as his hard shot sailed wide. Hotspurs’ #11, Travis Smickle, surprised our defense as he struck and scored with a left-footer from 18 yards to put his team ahead once again, 2-1. A few minutes later, another break was made on the right flank and a cross deflected inside the near post as Campbell unsuccessfully tried to clear, Hotspurs now up 1-3 shortly before the second water break.
After the resumption was our first substitution, bringing on Rojaughn Joseph for Shawn Daley. Towards the end of the second half, we continued rotating our players as Kafui Douet made way for Sean-Michael McIntosh, and Matthew Bell came on for Kellijah Morgan. HVFC kept hunting until Chong was able to grab a loose ball to score his second of the day to make it 2-3. He stayed on the ground for some time after scoring and was substituted shortly after. Motivation seemed to be restored as our team looked more lively & urgent following our 2nd goal; Joseph sent Bell goal-ward, but his shot was saved for a corner where Robinson’s left-footer curled inside but Davis headed it just wide of the target. 3 minutes of time was added as HVFC fought on, looking for another equalizer; It was not to be.
Game ended 2-3, which had HVFC finish second to Tottenham Hotspurs in zone A; The team will now prepare for the semi-finals tomorrow against the winner of Zone B.