PHC 5 Wolves 0

Enrique Russell scored twice as PHC reached the last four of the Friendship Trophy with a clinical victory over Wolves at PHC Stadium last night.

Wolves set up in a midblock to ensure the reigning Premier Division champions were unable to consistently pass through the centre and their back line stepped really close to assist midfield duo Kydan Browne and Khiari Sharrieff.

This compact shape forced Zebras into numerous early mistakes in possession, although they were ruthless when they got it right.

PHC opened the scoring from a set-piece, with DeAndre Smith-Lightbourne whipping a flat ball into the penalty area. Wolves goalkeeper Gatwoine Minors misjudged his punch, and an unmarked Kadeem Abraham headed home at the back post. They should have doubled their lead about ten minutes later, but Shavon Nisbett forced Minors into a smart save after being found with a long pass by Enrique King-Mills.

Wolves continued to struggle in the final third as they slowly gained territory and showed more composure in the fleeting periods they had possession.

However, the home side would double their lead when Joshua Joseph latched onto a flick by Dakari Smith-Davis to finish low past Minors and they made it three in first-half stoppage time, ending the quarter-final as a true contest, when Shavon Nisbett finished off a neat move which also involved Joseph and Davis.

Wolves showed their hand with three changes at half-time to switch up their approach, but Zebras continued to show the greater threat in the final third.

They knew Wolves had to open up and push forward with more intensity than they did in the first half and their wide stars Nisbett and Joseph were offered more space and time on the counter attack.

Their prowess in this style paid off for their fourth goal, with T’syi Showers knocking down a long pass by King-Mills for Enrique Russell to tap into the empty net.

Wolves finally showed some semblance of attacking thrust in the final ten minutes of the cup tie, with a strike from Khiari Sharrieff taking a knick off the head of DeAndre Smith-Lightbourne, which goalkeeper Quinaceo Hunt judged poorly but was able to keep off his line.

Wolves continued to huff and puff and could have had a consolation when Morricko Iris had a shot from close range after a floated free kick from Kydan Browne was poorly cleared, but Hunt parried it out for a corner.

Zebras closed the scoring out when a cross by Showers, intended for Russell, struck the hand of Jahmori Martin, and referee Jermaine Yee Sing pointed to the spot.

Russell had his initial effort from 12 yards saved by Minors, but the Wolves keeper was off his line, allowing the striker a second effort and Russell made no mistake on the second attempt to close out the emphatic victory.

In the Shield quarter-final played before this match, Boulevard Blazers beat Southampton Rangers 3-2.

SCORERS

PHC: Abraham 8, Joseph 30, Nesbitt 45+1, Russell 73, 90+2 pen

TEAMS

PHC Zebras (4-3-3): Q Hunt 7 – D Smith-Lightbourne 6, C McDowall 6, E King-Mills 6, E Joseph 5 – D Lodge 6, K Abraham 7 (sub: J Ebbin, 81min), D Smith-Davis 6 – S Nisbett 7 (sub: X Smith, 81), E Russell 8, J Joseph 7 (sub: T Showers, 71). Substitutes not used: M Lambe, Y Burgess, A Wade, N Griffith. Booked: Smith-Davis, King-Mills

Wolves (4-1-4-1): G Minors 6 – L Paynter 5, K Sharrieff-Hayward 6, A Brangman 4 (sub: Jahmi Douglas, 46 5), D Botelho 5 (sub: J Hayeem, 46 5) – J Martin 5 – K Brangman 5 (sub: M Iris, 46 5), K Sharrieff 6, K Browne 5, M Ming 5 (sub: J Steede, 71) – Jarred Douglas 5 (sub: M McGowan, 71). Substitutes not used: C Smith, A Butterfield. Booked: Botelho, Iris, Jahmi Douglas, M Thomas.

Referee: J Yee Sing (Jamaica)