Defending Champions Tivoli Gardens strode ahead in the first leg of the Red Stripe Champions Cup Knockout quarterfinal at the Harbour View stadium by a commanding three goals to zero.
The first half had not too much action as both teams played very cagey as the spectators twisted in their seats Kavin Bryan would break away but could not beat the advancing goalkeeper Edsel Scott midway the half.
Lovel Palmer was also blocked at the far post as Robert Scarlett’s cross left him all alone as for the third time Scott fell to the ground the accept injury treatment.
Two swerving corners from Fabian Davis and then Christopher Jackson called on goalkeeper Dwayne Miller to tip over the bar for a series of corner kicks to Tivoli as the second half brought the game to life.
In minute 52 Jackson slammed a strong shot to goal from just inside the box as it evaded Miller’s hands and scored below his body at the near post. Ten minutes later a questionable refereeing decision resulted in an infringement 22 yards outside the Harbour View area and Fabian Davis curled a superb shot to beat a diving Miller and gain a two goal buffer.
Tempers flared as goalkeeper Scott marched out of his goal to confront a spectator who is said to have hurled an object at him, as the game was delayed for three minutes. It only got worse as Richard Edwards committed a second bookable offence to be ejected and reduce his team to ten men after 76 minutes. Scott again confronted the offender this time on the field as Referee Courtney Campbell belatedly issued a caution.
Six minutes of injury time added was more than enough for former National striker Roland Dean to deliver another telling blow to the hosts by beating the goalkeeper with a clean strike from just inside the area.
Tivoli 3 Harbour View 0, leaves Harbour View with a daunting task of getting four goals away to Tivoli next Wednesday to have a chance to advance to the Knockout semifinals.