Brazil stall Humble Lions

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Clarendon Team Humble Lions was halted in its bid to secure an early qualification to next season's Digicel Premier League when it was forced to salvage a 1-1 draw against Brazil at the York Town Community Centre yesterday.

Brazil dented an enthusiastic Clarendon crowd when Dwayne Gopaulsingh scored in the third minute of play.

The home side generally chased the action until midway the second half where a turn-around in their approach brought a controversial penalty from which Kimroy Davis scored the important equaliser, which put them on eight points, with two rounds remaining.

Brazil, who are now on two points, are only left with a mathematical chance of emerging from the play-offs. They were left to rue having the better of the first-half exchanges, as well as a number of their players missing good chances to expand the scoreline, none moreso than Gopaulsingh, who muffed a one-on-one chance running at goalkeeper Waldo Ricketts.

It was the second straight game that Brazil was scoring first, having done so against August Town on Sunday when they were pegged back in a 4-1 defeat.

Both coaches were disappointed with the result, particularly the St Ann team's coach, David Pryce, who felt that referee Gregory Daley's call was influenced by the behaviour of the hometown spectators when the alleged foul took place.

The call was made after the Humble Lions captain, Tyrone Buddah, attempted to flick the ball over the head of defender Orlando Brown. The ball appeared to make contact with Brown's arms, but the referee's delayed reaction and his subsequent whistle appeared in chorus as the crowd responded.

Disciplined

"I think Humble Lions did enough to have scored a clean goal," Pryce said. "The call is dubious and it hurts, especially that we needed to win this game badly."

The Humble Lions coach, Anthony Pringle, was far from happy with his players, who he felt approached the game like they had already qualified.

"I am not happy with how we executed today," said Pringle. "We were not disciplined in midfield and I get the impression that they think that getting this qualification is easier than it is."

He is, however, confident that they can get it right against Wadadah.

'We were not disciplined in midfield and I get the impression that they think that getting this qualification is easier than it is.'