Quitongo is the comeback king
MORTON manager Jim Duffy insists Jai Quitongo has yet to reach his full potential after the striker scored a last-gasp winner to sink Dunfermline.
The Championship leaders appeared to be in control and were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Joe Cardle and a Kallum Higginbotham penalty.
However, the Cappielow men produced a stunning second-half comeback thanks to a strike from Robert Thomson and a Gary Harkins free-kick, before Quitongo pounced at the death.
The 19-year-old suffered an injury nightmare last season and Duffy believes the best is yet to come from the Greenock hero.
‘Jai is only 19,’ said Duffy. ‘When I hear top players getting mentioned at top clubs who are that age, it’s as if they are young and inexperienced. But we have boys at that level and it’s as if we’re expecting the finished article.
‘He’s not, but he has blistering pace and power. Over the course of the season, I’m sure he’ll improve and he has great potential.’
Reflecting on an entertaining spectacle, Duffy added: ‘It was an outstanding game of football. We started well and could have been a couple of goals ahead in the first five minutes.
‘When you get a goal back early in the second half, it gives you a bit of momentum and you can throw caution to the wind.
‘But you need a bit of good fortune to win in the last minute.’
The Pars survived an early scare when Andy Murdoch fired an effort over the bar from just six yards, although he was put off by Cardle’s challenge.
Dunfermline punished Morton for that miss on nine minutes when Cardle burst into the box on the left and fired low past goalkeeper Derek Gaston from a tight angle.
Allan Johnston’s men doubled their lead on 33 minutes from the penalty spot.
Morton midfielder Ross Forbes was booked for unintentionally kicking Jason Talbot in the face with a high boot.
Gaston guessed correctly and got a hand to Higginbotham’s spot-kick, but his effort was too powerful.
However, Talbot’s afternoon was over and he was replaced at left-back by Lewis Martin.
Morton were gifted a goal two minutes after the restart when Pars captain Callum Morris’ header back to goalkeeper Sean Murdoch was woefully short and Thomson nipped in to score.
Morton’s equaliser arrived on 73 minutes when substitute Harkins curled home a free-kick into the top-left corner from 20 yards.
Dunfermline thought they had won it on 90 minutes when Lee Ashcroft’s header was cleared off the line by Connor McManus.
But there was one final twist in the third minute of stoppage time when Quitongo beat Martin.
Dunfermline claimed for a foul by the striker. However, he raced through on goal to calmly slot past Murdoch to send the home supporters wild.
‘We threw it away,’ said Johnston, whose side were knocked off top spot by St Mirren.
‘We were totally in command and 2-0 up. It looked like we would score a third and fourth goal. It’s a big mistake for Morton’s first goal and that gave them a lift.
‘But we have to handle the situation.
‘The goals we conceded were far too soft. I’m not sure if it was a foul on Lewis Martin for their winner, but you have to take the chance and be strong. It’s the last minute — you can’t take a risk.’