KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a dramatic semi-final second leg clash at Kingston’s National Stadium on Wednesday, defending Jamaica Premier League champions Cavalier pulled off a stunning comeback to defeat Montego Bay United 2-0 in extra time, overturning a 1-0 deficit from the first leg to secure their fifth consecutive appearance in the league’s title decider.
Midfielder Kimarly Scott emerged as the unlikely hero for Cavalier, netting both of his side’s goals to power the comeback and punch Cavalier’s ticket to the regional stage as well: Wednesday’s win also confirms the club will compete in the upcoming Concacaf Caribbean Cup, which is scheduled to kick off this August.
Cavalier will face off with Portmore United in Sunday’s final, a foe that pulled off an identical comeback against Mt Pleasant FA. Portmore also dropped their first leg match by a 1-0 scoreline before rallying to claim a 4-3 aggregate win to advance to the title match.
For Mt Pleasant, the reigning Concacaf Caribbean Cup champions, the semi-final exit sends them to a do-or-die third place playoff against Montego Bay United this Sunday. The winner of that playoff will claim the last remaining spot from Jamaica in the CFU Club Shield, a regional competition for Caribbean club sides.
Recapping Wednesday’s tense match, Cavalier went into the second leg chasing the deficit after an own goal in the first leg handed Montego Bay the aggregate edge. The breakthrough finally came in the 54th minute, when Scott connected perfectly with a corner kick, heading the ball into the far left corner of the net to level the aggregate scoreline and force extra time.
Scott sealed the historic comeback in the 98th minute, during the first half of extra time, capping off a second-half rally that will see Cavalier defend their back-to-back titles in the league’s final match this weekend.