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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 02 2003 : 07:50:17 AM
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Hazard dethrone Arnett
FOOTBALL Wray & Nephew NPL Final
SEAN A WILLIAMS, Observer staff reporter
Monday, June 02, 2003
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/images/20030601T230000-0500_44584_OBS_HAZARD_DETHRONE_ARNETT_1.jpg
2002/03 CHAMPIONS: Wray & Nephew National Premier League champions, Hazard United celebrate after dethroning two-time defending champions, Arnett Gardens 3-2 in the final at the National Stadium yesterday. Hazard United also won the JFF Under-21 crown, beating Tivoli Gardens 1-0 to take the double. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
WHAT an occasion to get his 30th goal of the season.
Roen Nelson, smooth yet deadly, shattered the three-peat dream of defending champions, Arnett Gardens, with an 86th-minute strike to hand Hazard United the National Premier League title in a 3-2 (4-3 on aggregate) thriller at the National Stadium yesterday.
The club made a clean sweep as they also copped the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Under-21 crown -- 1-0 over Tivoli Gardens -- which was the curtain-raiser of the main event.
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/images/20030601T230000-0500_44584_OBS_HAZARD_DETHRONE_ARNETT_2.jpg
Arnett Gardens' defender, Gerald Neil (left), in a keen tussle with Hazard United's forward, Andrew Morrison, for possession in the final of the National Premier League played at the National Stadium yesterday. Hazard won 3-2 (4-3 on aggregate). (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
In the feature, Hazard had galloped into the lead in the 10th minute through Omar Daley and hero turned villain, Wolry Wolfe, added his name to the scoresheet for a half-time lead 16 minutes later.
Wolfe was later sent off by Guatemalan referee, Carlos Batres, after accumulating two yellow cards.
After being pinned down by the marauding Hazard attackers, Arnett, as expected, came to life and even terms with goals from substitute, Everton Bunsie (62nd minute) and Cornel Chin-Sue (83rd).
Down to 10 men and soaking up unrelenting flak from Arnett's clever ball artists, Hazard kept heart and emerged from the trenches to savour the sweet taste of victory after languishing in the wilderness for 10 years. Hazard last won the league back in 1993.
"I am very elated. I believe that the players deserve the victory more than anyone else ... the hard work we put in all season has finally paid off," said a jubilant Hazard coach, Lenworth Hyde.
"The spirit, discipline and attitude of the team has been great all season," he added.
Arnett -- full of flair and guts -- were chasing the unprecedented third consecutive title, but a bouquet of defensive errors cost them dearly.
"I am feeling pretty bad right now as we allowed Hazard to play ... a lapse in concentration in the defence again cost us and we gave up goals," said a forlorn Arnett coach, Jerome Waite.
Before Hazard got the first goal, it was the 'Junglists' who looked more purposeful with neat build-ups involving Chin-Sue, Jonathan Williams, Kevin Wilson and Walter Boyd.
With two minutes clocked, Chin-Sue, who had numerous efforts on goal throughout, forced the acrobatic Shawn Sawyers to go to ground to prevent his turf-hugger from going in.
A few minutes later Hazard sounded their warning, when the silky smooth Kevin Deerr strolled past a web of lunging Arnett feet, but he failed to capitalise on the space he created.
Then it happened. A sprightly one-touch combo featuring Nelson, Deerr and then a cunning through ball from Wolfe, put the charismatic Daley en route to goal, and with time and room, he beat Julian McLeish with a firm right-footer from the edge of the area.
In the 31st minute, Arnett spurned a glorious opportunity to bring things even, when an indecisive Jermaine Benjamin, found unmarked at the far post by Walter Boyd, skied his shot from 16 yards.
Then like a bolt of lightening, the massive Arnett support was jolted when Wolfe extended Hazard's lead. Forward Andrew Morrison, with some room down the right, waltzed his way to the by-line and measured a low cross inside which curled away from McLeish, giving the prowling Wolfe a sitter from 12 yards.
Realising that their beloved Arnett were two goals down, the vociferous supporters went silent as a spooky hush swept the stadium.
But a double substitution by coach Waite revived the cheers with the arrival of Bunsie and Gerald Neil.
Bunsie brought pandemonium to the grounds when he snuck a low right-footed grounder from 22 yards past Sawyers after he was set-up by Boyd, who reverted to the role of provider.
Then it was Arnett all the way as they forced Hazard back in their frenzied efforts to get the equaliser -- taking advantage of their one-man edge.
Defender, Alex Thomas, abandoned his marshalling role in the back and surged forward like a man possessed, and it was his teasing low cross that provided the trigger-happy Chin-Sue with a shooting chance. The veteran midfielder rammed home making the score 2-2.
And when it appeared as if the game was headed for sudden death extra time, Nelson delivered his killer blow. The league's top gun, with a loose ball and room to kick, expertly drove the ball home, with a frozen Arnett defence in a daze. It was 3-2 and time to run down the clock.
"I know I was going to get a goal. I knew I had to be patient as my team-mates were depending on me to get the winner," said a beaming Nelson afterwards.
Hazard United -- Shawn Sawyers, Tyrone Sawyers, Anthony Modeste, Kevin Deerr (Loxley Thomas 60th), Claude Davis, Andrew Morrison (Ryan Powell 88th), Ricardo Smith, Wolry Wolfe (ejected), Derrick Smith, Omar Daley (Paul Young 82nd) and Roen Nelson.
Booked: Wolfe (ejected 76th) and Daley (39th).
Arnett Gardens -- Julian McLeish, Alex Thomas, Oneil Dunn, Shane Stevens, Cornel Chin-Sue, Fabian Davis (Gerald Neil 52nd), Jonathan Williams, Gregory Messam (Alberto Fray 77th), Jermaine Benjamin (Everton Bunsie 52nd), Kevin Wilson and Walter Boyd.
Booked: Wilson (34th) Bunsie (65th) and Chin-Sue (85th)
Referee (FIFA): Carlos Batres
Assistant referees (FIFA): Anthony Garwood and Michael Mitchell
Fourth Official (FIFA): Victor Stewart
Match Commissary: Clayton Solomon
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Karl |
Edited by - Karl on Jun 02 2003 07:58:52 AM
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Karl
Senior Member
USA
914 Posts |
Posted - Jun 02 2003 : 08:00:11 AM
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HAZARD CELEBRATES!
http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030602/sports/Images/NPLFinalL20030601MS.JPG
<font color=gray><i>Hazard United midfielder Omar Daley, left, douses coach Lenworth Hyde, centre, while team mate Kevin Deer looks on as they celebrate their team's National Premier League title success over Arnett Gardens at the National Stadium last night. Daley scored the opening goal in Hazard's 3-2 win. - Michael Sloley /Freelance Photographer</i></font> |
Karl |
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2003 NPL Final - Hazard dethrone Arnett
