DEFENDING champions Waterhouse FC and Cavalier FC will meet in the final of the 2019 Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) Women’s Premier League by virtue of beating their respective opponents in the second leg of their two-way semi-finals at Drewsland last Saturday.

The wins by both teams set up a repeat of last year’s final when Waterhouse defeated Cavalier 2-1. In this year’s mid-season final, Waterhouse defeated Cavalier 5-1.

Last Saturday’s return legs saw Waterhouse securing a 2-1 win over Olympic Gardens for a 6-2 aggregate, while Cavalier tagged Arnett Gardens 3-1 to win 5-2 overall. The final is scheduled to be played on Saturday at a venue to be named.

In the feature match of the afternoon’s double-header, it was Olympic who went attacking from the outset, but the opportunities they created were squandered.

Defending champions Waterhouse, after sustaining some early pressure from Olympic Gardens, countered on the left flank that resulted in them breaking the deadlock in the 21st minute.

For the go-ahead goal, Davia Richards was on hand to bury the ball from a cross into the penalty area. Even though their chances were slim in overhauling Waterhouse’s healthy aggregate lead, Olympic Gardens put in a strong second half as they hunted goals and came close on a number of occasions.

After producing several threatening attacks, Olympic Gardens finally equalised in the 60th minute through a powerful 25-yard free kick from Monique Pryce that gave goalkeeper Tiana Schroeter no chance.

Minutes later Shantel Bailey should have restored Waterhouse’s lead, but kicked high from close range. In the 82nd minute, however, Waterhouse, already with a 5-2 lead on aggregate, went up 2-1 courtesy of Jessica Johnson’s 82nd minute goal.

— Gerald Reid