Harbour View challenge Haitians in must-win encounter today

Paul-Andre Walker, Staff Reporter

WHILE ENJOYING a win in their first Group A Caribbean Football Union (CFU) game against Haiti's Aigle Noir, former champions Harbour View still face a must-win situation when they play against SV Centro Social Deportivo Barber today.

Hosting the competition at the Harbour View Mini-Stadium, 'The Stars of the East' enjoyed a 1-0 victory against their Haitian opponents on Friday in a game in which they should have scored more goals.

Gregg Taylor's 13th-minute header, while all-important in earning his team three points, means Harbour View find themselves second in the four-team group after Barber carved out a well-deserved 2-0 victory over The United States' Virgin Island's Positive Vibes.

In that game, Barber got goals from Edgard Cassiani Perez in the 36th minute and earlier from Oscar Molina Palomino in the 10th.

The one-goal difference between the teams is important because only the team that tops the group goes to the next round, making the 8:00 start this evening even more tantalising.

Harbour View's coach, Lenworth 'Teacher' Hyde, says his team is doing well at this point but must expect a tougher fight from Barber than they received from the tricky Haitians.

"The game was what I expected - the Haitian are quality players. They handle the ball well, but we had to play a disciplined game and stay behind the ball and prevent them from creating any chances," Hyde said of his opponents on Friday.

Tougher challenge

"Centro Barber play well. They move the ball around well, but we just have to keep a clean sheet like we did (Friday). This will be a tougher challenge because they were there watching us. They will come all out and this is a must-win game," said Hyde about this evening's challenge.

The Jamaicans will be starting with a man short, though, as Taylor, who turned hero in the 13th minute of the first game became a villain later on, striking a player off the ball and getting himself red-carded.

The sin was made even more poignant by the fact that, at the time, Harbour View had a man advantage after Aigle Noir's captain, Akenol Jean Sony, was sent off for a late challenge on Taylor.

After the game, Aigle Noir's coach, Jean Joseph Mathelier, said Harbour View were dominant in the first half and played well enough to earn the victory, but his team would do better tonight.

"I am going to do better with the team for the upcoming game. We will play better and try to win that game," said Mathelier.

Aigle Noir will play in the curtain-raiser against Positive Vibes at 6:00 p.m.

This is also a must-win game for them because they are still very much in with a chance of qualifying, especially if Centro Barber beat Harbour View.