KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica College held their nerves to beat St Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) 8-7 in sudden death penalties to win their 31st Manning Cup title at Sabina Park on Friday evening.

They were winning a second title in three years, both on penalties, and were beating STATHS for a third time in the final since 2017 after STATHS had rallied to earn a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

They were tied 4-all after the first five penalties and it took another eight kicks, four each, to separate the teams.

It was the second time in a week that Jamaica College were beating STATHS in a penalty shootout after edging them in the semi-finals of the ISSA Champions Cup on Saturday.

There was very little between the schools during regulation and Jamaica College took the lead in the 27th minute when Jaheem Frazer unleashed a brilliant right footer from the right side into the top right hand corner of the goal, after beating a defender.

After coming close and being denied late in the first half, STATHS got a deserved equaliser when Shakeone Satchwell capitalised on a mistake by defender Donte Whynes in the 59th minute, latched on to a pass from the right side and fired home at the near left post.

STATHS’ goalkeeper, Jaheem Williams, who missed the shootout in the Champions Cup game, gave his team the advantage when he saved the first Jamaica College kick taken by Romaine Blake.

Renson Sayers, Kevaughn Wilson, Maquan Aldridge and Tarick Ximines, made their kicks for Jamaica College as well as Satchwell, Omar Reid, Delaney Whyte and Nickoy Gayle and had STATHS on the cusp of their second Manning Cup win after making their kicks but Namar Nelson skied the final kick and let Jamaica College off the hook.

In sudden-death, J’Havier Lynch, Xavier Davidson, Michael Graham and Thyeim Shaw made their kicks for Jamaica College as did Andre Salmon, Omari Laing and Ronaldo Livingston for STATHS but Rashaun Frankson missed.

Paul A Reid