Wadadah, Reno for Super League finale
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Wadadah FC survived a tense 6-5 penalty shoot-out to beat Tomorrow’s People, while Reno brushed aside Granville 3-0 in regulation play in Tuesday’s return-leg semi-finals at Jarrett Park and advanced to the final of the Jamaica Football Federation Captain’s Bakery and Grill Western Confederation Super League.
Both first legs played last Thursday ended in draws making Tuesday’s games even more tense. Wadadah won 6-5 on aggregate after a 0-0 draw in the first half, while Reno advanced 4-1, having come from behind to earn a 1-1 draw in the first game.
The first leg of the final will be played on Sunday at Frome, set to start at 3:30 pm.
Wadadah FC had lost some of their early season sheen after losing to Tomorrow’s People in the mid-season final, while the Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis-coached team had used as a springboard to dominated the third round and had gained the favourites tag in some quarters. They, however, had their hearts broken on Tuesday in the biggest game in the team’s history after coming from behind to earn a 1-1 draw.
Shanavan Wilson gave Wadadah FC the lead after 33 minutes, but Dalkeith McPherson pulled his team level in the 58th minute.
In the shoot-out, Tomorrow’s People were behind from the first kick after the usually dependable Gregory Tape missed. Omar Christie, Christopher Dyer, Jermaine Cooper and McPherson all scored, but Wadadah FC made all six kicks count.
Wilson, Alex McFarlane, Demar Dohman, Curtis Palmer and Loxley Thomas all scored for Wadadah who will play in the final for the second straight year after losing to Savannah SC last year.
After playing arguably their best game of the season in the first leg to earn a draw with Reno at Frome, Granville appeared to have run out of gas and were no match for the Westmoreland team that is seeking to return to the Premier League one year after being relegated.
Delano Rankine scored twice, once in either half, in the 27th and 82nd minutes and Craig Foster got the other in the 67th minute as Reno set up another meeting with Wadadah who they beat 2-0 in their last meeting.