Montego Bay United (pictured) takes a team photo prior to its CFU Club Championship semifinal against DirecTV W Connection on May 22, 2015, in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago. (Photo: Allan Crane)
COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago – Despite being disappointed after falling 1-0 to DirecTV W Connection on Friday in the semifinals of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Club Championship, Montego Bay United was by no means discouraged.
The Jamaican champion kept to its strategy and was gaining momentum in the second half until a defensive miscue led to a goal for the Savonetta Boys. An awkward backpass in the air to goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett was not properly cleared, ultimately ending up on the talented foot of Hashim Arcia, who found the back of the net in the 70th minute.
Dino Williams nearly leveled in the 79th minute, but Montego Bay would come no closer to sending the encounter to extra time.
“The game was a very good game,” said forward Lesly St. Fleur, a Bahamas international. “We came out with a plan, but it fell short.
“Our plan was to come in and play, hold possession of the ball and make them run. When we tired them, we would attack, but, like I said, we fell short.”
It was Montego Bay’s second semifinal in just six days. Last Sunday, it defeated Waterhouse 5-1 to reach the Jamaican Red Stripe Premier League final with an 8-2 aggregate triumph.
According to St. Fleur, there were no lingering negative effects physically from that series or the travel to Trinidad & Tobago.
“We’re just coming off a semifinal down in Jamaica, so we came with a good intensity,” the 26-year-old commented. “We’re good and fit.”
Montego Bay will have another chance to secure a berth in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, when it faces Don Bosco FC in the CFU’s match for third place on Sunday. The Haitian side was outlasted on penalty kicks, 3-1, after a scoreless draw against Central FC in Friday’s other semifinal.
St. Fleur does not anticipate altering anything for that encounter, getting on the scoreboard is what matters most.
“We’ll come out with the same mentality and just play hard, come out victorious,” he finished. “When we have our chances, we’ll put them away fast.
“Sunday, we’ll be ready again.”
