Mt Pleasant clinch JPL semifinal spot
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Leaders Mt Pleasant FA are assured of a place in the semi-finals of the Jamaica Premier League after beating Chapelton Maroons 2-0 in their third round game played at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday.
With the win, the St Ann-based club moved to 81 points, nine clear of second placed Montego Bay United and could guarantee finishing top of the league standings when they play third placed Arnett Gardens in a rescheduled game on Thursday.
Fielding a starting team of mostly younger players, Mt Pleasant dominated the possession but had to wait until the 61st minute before debutant Angelo Exilus was well placed at the far left post to tap in a low hard cross from Raheem Edwards.
Edwards, who was a second half substitute, added a second in the 73rd minute, his 11th goal of the season.
Meanwhile, in the second game on Monday, Owayne Gordon scored a double and former national player Peter-Lee Vassell scored on his debut as Montego Bay United beat 10-man Racing United 3-0.
Racing were reduced to 10 men in the 10th minute after Romaine Bowers was sent off for dragging down Jourdain Fletcher just inside the box. Gordon scored the resulting penalty and Racing were left to chase the game.
Montego Bay added to their lead when Vassell finished off a good combination with Gordon and Demario Phillips in the 63rd minute, chipping the ball into the far right corner.
Gordon put the nail in the coffin a minute into time added when he fired home past goalkeeper Ashieka Swearing from about nine yards.
-Paul A Reid