Arnett Gardens edge Los Perfectos 3-2 in JWPL semi-final opener

Arnett Gardens hold the upper hand in their Jamaica Women's Premier League (JWPL) semi-final tie after edging Los Perfectos 3-2 yesterday in a close first-leg contest at the Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

Shikira Douglas remained in sharp scoring form, finding the net twice in the second and 42nd minutes for Arnett, while skipper Tuanashae Hamilton struck in the 77th. Los Perfectos stayed in the hunt through Venicia Reid, who answered with two goals in the 28th and 88th minutes for the Manchester side.

Both teams attacked from the start in an open match that could easily have produced more than five goals.

Arnett moved ahead early when Douglas converted in the second minute after the game's first serious threat. She beat her markers to reach a pass that split the defence and slid the ball past the goalkeeper from close range.

Los Perfectos levelled through Reid in the 28th minute. The experienced forward slipped between two centre backs to connect with a pass from Sara Needham and placed her shot into the bottom left corner.

Douglas put Arnett back in front before the interval with her second goal, again using pace to get in behind the defence on a ball played over the top and steering her finish to the far post from just outside the area.

Arnett stretched the margin after the break when Hamilton collected possession on the left, beat a defender, and curled a shot with the outside of her right foot into the top of the net.

Reid dragged Los Perfectos back into contention late on, using strength to get past Shaquilla Forbes and firing past goalkeeper Alesha Robinson before the final whistle.

The win gives Arnett the advantage ahead of the return leg, though Los Perfectos still have everything to play for as they chase a place in the final.