分类： sports

In a breathtaking conclusion to the ISSA daCosta Cup final, St Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) emerged victorious against Glenmuir High in an intense penalty shootout that extended to sudden death at the National Stadium on Saturday. The championship match culminated in an 8-7 penalty decision following a grueling 90-minute stalemate that remained scoreless despite extraordinary efforts from both sides.

The contest intensified dramatically in the 55th minute when STETHS faced a critical disadvantage after player Jade Lynch received a red card, forcing the team to complete the match with only ten players. Despite this significant setback, STETHS demonstrated remarkable resilience and tactical discipline, effectively neutralizing Glenmuir’s offensive strategies throughout the remainder of regulation time.

The penalty shootout unfolded as a dramatic narrative of its own, with both teams initially deadlocked at four successful conversions apiece after the standard five attempts. The tension escalated as each squad missed their seventh penalty attempt, extending the contest into sudden death rounds. The decisive moment arrived when STETHS goalkeeper Steadmon, who had previously converted his own penalty shot, made his second critical save of the shootout by stopping Glenmuir’s ninth attempt, securing the championship for his team.

This victory marks STETHS’ sixth daCosta Cup title overall and their first championship claim since 2015, ending an eight-year drought for the institution. The outcome simultaneously denied Glenmuir High their potential fourth hold on the trophy and represented their second finals defeat within a three-year period, adding another chapter to the competitive rivalry between these football programs.

Excelsior High School triumphed over Jamaica College (JC) with a decisive 2-0 victory in the ISSA Wata Manning Cup final at the National Stadium on Friday, ending a two-decade championship drought. The long-awaited win marks their eighth Manning Cup title, with their previous victories dating back to 1953 and 2004.

The breakthrough came in the 57th minute when Kimarley Scott demonstrated clinical precision, capitalizing on a turnover forced by Excelsior’s relentless pressure. JC’s commitment to playing out from the back proved costly as their midfield was dispossessed, allowing Scott to strike decisively from inside the penalty area.

As regulation time expired, Shamarie Chambers—whose long throws had threatened throughout the contest—delivered another spectacular service that Kivann Salmon converted in the 96th minute, securing the victory beyond any doubt.

The match began as a tactical battle between two impeccably coached sides. JC, undefeated throughout the season until this final, created several promising opportunities. Jamone Lyles fired over the crossbar in the 10th minute, while Duwayne Burgher missed narrowly from close range nine minutes later. JC’s Dontae Logan and Malique Bucknor also orchestrated dangerous attacks that ultimately failed to produce goals.

Excelsior’s strategy leveraged long balls and set pieces to exploit Scott’s speed and technical ability, consistently testing JC’s defensive resolve. Meanwhile, Chambers’ prodigious throw-ins created persistent problems for Jamaica College’s backline.

The victory carries particular significance for Excelsior, who suffered defeats in last year’s Walker Cup and Under-16 finals. For Jamaica College, the loss represents their first and only defeat of the season, despite having beaten Excelsior 2-1 in quarterfinal action earlier this month.

Two emerging coaching talents in Jamaican high school football are poised for a monumental confrontation in the Ben Francis Cup final this afternoon at the National Stadium. Cornwall College’s Hector Wright and Clarendon College’s Devon Anderson, both in their inaugural seasons leading their respective programs, seek to secure their first major trophy at 3:00 pm kickoff.

Wright assumed leadership at Cornwall College following Theodore Whitmore’s departure, having previously served as assistant coach for the historically successful program. Meanwhile, Anderson brought substantial experience from successful tenures at Holy Trinity High and Hydel High in urban competitions when he succeeded Lenworth Hyde at Clarendon College.

The match represents significant opportunity for both institutions. Cornwall College aims to claim their first championship title since making history as the first daCosta Cup team to capture the ISSA Champions Cup in 2018. Their opponents, Clarendon College, pursue their fifth Ben Francis Cup victory after claiming the trophy in 2023 and now appearing in consecutive finals.

Both coaches acknowledge the transformative potential of a championship victory for their nascent tenures. Wright characterized his squad as ‘resilient,’ emphasizing that maximum effort regardless of fatigue would constitute success. His team rebounded impressively after narrowly missing daCosta Cup semi-final qualification, demonstrating mental fortitude according to Friday’s statements to the Jamaica Observer.

Anderson described his inaugural season as a ‘roller coaster’ adaptation period involving new competition structures, player personnel, institutional expectations, and administrative dynamics. His extensive experience in high-pressure scenarios includes guiding Holy Trinity to the 2014 ISSA Flow Cup final and achieving Manning Cup finalist status with Hydel.

The Clarendon coach noted several players returned from last year’s squad that fell to St Elizabeth Technical in the Ben Francis final, creating heightened motivation despite physical exhaustion from an intense schedule. Their path to the final included a narrow quarter-final defeat to Christiana High in daCosta Cup play, followed by victories over Garvey Maceo High and a dramatic 4-1 penalty shootout triumph against Manning’s School after a 1-1 regulation draw.

MIAMI – In a highly anticipated crossover event that polarized the boxing world, former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua decisively ended his contest against social media personality Jake Paul with a sixth-round knockout. The Friday night spectacle, streamed globally on Netflix from Miami’s Kaseya Center, culminated with Joshua connecting a devastating right hand that sent Paul collapsing to the canvas.

The bout, which guaranteed both participants a share of a monumental $184 million purse, highlighted the dramatic disparity in experience between the two-time world champion and the YouTube creator turned pugilist. Despite concerns from boxing purists about the matchup’s legitimacy, Paul demonstrated unexpected resilience by surviving into the middle rounds before Joshua’s superior power and technique proved overwhelming.

The contest featured awkward moments that drew criticism from spectators and officials alike. Referee Christopher Young openly expressed frustration during the fourth round, chastising both fighters with audible remarks about the disappointing quality of action. Paul frequently resorted to unorthodox tactics, including dropping to the canvas and attempting to grapple with Joshua’s legs.

Post-fight medical evaluation confirmed Paul’s suspicion of a double jaw fracture, visible in a radiograph shared on his social media platforms. Joshua acknowledged his own performance fell short of ideal, stating: ‘The end goal was to get Jake Paul, pin him down and hurt him. It took longer than expected but the right hand finally found its destination.’

Despite the one-sided outcome, Joshua offered respect for his opponent’s determination: ‘I want to give him his props – he got up time and time again. It takes a real man to do that.’ Paul remained characteristically optimistic despite the loss, vowing to continue his boxing ambitions: ‘I gave it my all. Anthony’s one of the best to ever do it. I’m gonna come back and get a world championship.’

With this victory, Joshua now looks toward a potential historic showdown with fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury in 2026, potentially ending years of failed negotiations between the two champions.

In a heartfelt gesture of appreciation, Montego Bay United Football Club has announced free general admission for all spectators at their upcoming Jamaica Premier League match against Waterhouse FC this Sunday at Jarrett Park. Club Chairman Yoni Epstein revealed the decision as a special ‘thank you’ to loyal supporters who have stood by the team through recent challenges.

The match marks a significant homecoming for the club, representing their first game in Montego Bay since Hurricane Melissa struck on October 28th. The severe storm caused substantial damage to their regular home venue, the Montego Bay Sports Complex, forcing the team to temporarily relocate their home games to the historic Jarrett Park facility.

Epstein expressed gratitude to fans for their ‘continued support throughout everything with Hurricane Melissa,’ acknowledging that ‘we have all been affected in many different ways.’ The club’s decision to ‘fly the gates’ – making entry complimentary – serves as both a reward for dedicated supporters and an invitation to the community to rally behind their local team.

Jarrett Park carries deep historical significance as Montego Bay’s premier sports venue since the 1950s, when the Kerr-Jarrett family gifted the property to the city. The stadium has hosted numerous St James parish teams in national club football competitions, including former championship sides Violet Kickers, Seba United, and Wadadah FC.

Since the league’s resumption, Montego Bay United has played three consecutive away matches in Kingston, including Monday’s 1-0 victory over Arnett Gardens at the refurbished Anthony Spaulding Complex. Epstein emphasized the club’s tireless efforts to ‘bring football back to western Jamaica and the iconic giant park’ after several weeks without local matches.

The chairman concluded with an impassioned appeal to supporters: ‘We just want to say, come out and support the team, support the club, support the city and thank you from the club and the players and the staff.’

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom – Manchester City ascended to the Premier League’s apex with a commanding 3-0 victory over West Ham United on Saturday, largely powered by a stellar performance from Erling Haaland. The triumph, City’s seventh consecutive across all competitions, intensifies the pressure on rivals Arsenal, who face a later fixture against Everton with the opportunity to reclaim the top spot for Christmas.

The match’s outcome seemed inevitable from the early moments as Haaland, demonstrating his signature clinical finishing, broke the deadlock after just five minutes. His initial strike was parried by West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, but the rebound fell fortuitously for the Norwegian striker, who emphatically smashed the ball into the top corner. Haaland then turned provider shortly before halftime, setting up Tijjani Reijnders for his inaugural goal at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite several opportunities to narrow the deficit in the second half, West Ham’s efforts proved futile, leaving the club mired in the relegation zone. Haaland, in stark contrast, remained ruthlessly efficient, sealing his brace and 38th goal of the season for club and country in the 69th minute after another favorable bounce.

In a parallel dramatic encounter, Chelsea orchestrated a remarkable second-half resurgence to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United. The Magpies dominated the first half, establishing a 2-0 lead through a double from Nick Woltemade. However, Chelsea’s fortunes shifted post-interval with a spectacular Reece James free-kick reigniting their hopes. An equalizer materialized when Joao Pedro capitalized on a defensive error by Malick Thiaw. The match concluded amidst controversy as Newcastle’s vehement appeals for two late penalties and a potential red card for James were dismissed by the officials.

Elsewhere in the league, Liverpool prepared for a crucial clash against Tottenham Hotspur without the services of Mohamed Salah, who has departed for the Africa Cup of Nations. Wolverhampton Wanderers’ struggles deepened with a 2-0 home defeat to Brentford, while Burnley snapped a seven-game losing streak with a last-gasp 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, courtesy of a 90th-minute goal from Armando Broja.