Ricardo Makyn

Sporting Central's Camaal Reid slides to win the ball ahead of Tivoli's Andre Morgan during the Red Stripe Premier League match at the Edwards Seaga Stadium on Sunday.

Shayne Fairman, STAR WRITER

Tivoli Gardens (TG), under coach Alvin Shaw, sunk to a second home defeat of the 2014/15 Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) football season after failing to overcome a stout ten-man Sporting Central team which rallied to a tense 1-0 win yesterday.

It was a tense and physical battle at the Edward Seaga stadium, between both teams, in the hunt for points. Aside from the home team missing the best chances of the early exchanges, the biggest bit of drama came when Rupert Murray of Sporting was sent off in the 45th minute for abusive language aimed at the referee. That red was accompanied by six other yellow cards issued throughout the edgy contest.

Tivoli had numerical advantage

Sporting Central ended with five players being booked, while TG had two cautioned. With the numerical advantage, Tivoli surged ahead, but just couldn't put away their chances.

Both teams failed to score from the run of play, but Sporting broke the deadlock from a free kick just after the half time break. Midfielder Otis Friend fired a low and hard to beat the wall and leave goalkeeper Edsel Scott beaten. "I feel very proud for scoring and giving my team the win today (yesterday)," he said.

Friend added that he hopes to help his team improve throughout the season.

Coach Nigel Stewart of Sporting commended his team's performance. "We haven't lost to Tivoli in a year," Stewart said. "We came here prepared to play physical football and get the three points," he pointed out. Meanwhile coach of Tivoli Gardens, Alvin Shaw, was disappointed with the result. "We came into this game positive, but ended a bit disappointed," said Shaw. "We just went flat in the game and have to work ourselves out of that," added Shaw.

Yesterday's other results:

Reno 1-0 Cavalier

Humble Lion 1-0 Rivoli

Waterhoue 0-0 Boys Town

Arnett 4-0 Barbican