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Portmore United looking to capitalise on Guthrie’s creativity
October 04, 2024
Portmore United Football Club's head coach, Rodolph Austin, was left singing the praise of midfielder Romeo Guthrie, who was in sparkling form at Anthony Spaulding Complex on Monday night, helping his team overcome Tivoli Gardens Football Club 2-1 for their first win of the 2024-25 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season.
Austin pointed that the former Arnett Gardens and Mount Pleasant playmaker did not play anywhere near his true potential in the first two matches, but noted that Monday's performance was what he expects from the player.
"I have to give the players credit; they went a goal down, they stuck to the game plan and got the victory," he said.
"Especially this guy (Guthrie). All of them had a good game, but he was superb, he was brilliant," Austin remarked.
"This (last) week after training I called him and said, 'I want to see the Guthrie that I know,'and this is the Guthrie that I know.
"If you saw his passes, he could have assisted five goals tonight (Monday). We don't really see players like that again in Jamaica," said Austin, the former senior men's national football captain who also played professionally in Europe.
"His passes were precise, right weight, right time; all the player had to do was score. Quality like this, I always want that," he stated.
Tivoli Gardens took the lead through a speculative effort from Nickalia Fuller in the 39th minute. But just before the break, Guthrie stole possession and slipped a precise ball into the path of Junior Grizzelle, who slotted past Tivoli Gardens FC's goalkeeeper Diego Haughton for the equaliser.
After the break, Guthrie was an even greater influence and presented chances to Tarick Ximines and Jaheim Rose, before setting up Javier Brown for the winner in time added.
Austin said that he expects the player to continue to have this type.of impact in the final third over the course of the season.
"I want him to score, but if he can provide me 30 assists for the season that would be brilliant," he stated.
In the meantime, Guthrie, who admitted it was one of his best JPL performances, said he aims to replicate that performance consistently over the season.
"There are many more (games) to come. It is about consistency, and I am a player people are always depending on to create something. So I have to keep that momentum and that mindset every day," he shared.
"The major role of the position that I play is to create and score. If I can't score, I create. As you see tonight (Monday), I didn't get off any shots, but I made sure my teammates had opportunities to score. And I just want to improve that," said Guthrie.
