JC edge KC in Champions Cup finale
Jamaica College (JC) claimed their second hold on the ISSA/Wata Champions Cup knockout competition after an exciting 2-1 victory over rivals Kingston College (KC) at National Stadium last evening.
Maquan Aldridge, in the 44th minute, and Tarick Ximines, in the 51st, were the scorers for the Davion Ferguson-coached JC.
Dujuan Richards scored for KC in the 79th minute.
The victory gave JC their second title of the season, this after they defeated St Andrew Technical High to win the Manning Cup trophy over a week ago.
Ferguson said he was very happy with his team’s performance.
“It was a game that I think we controlled for the most part. We know the threat that KC posed and we never wanted to give them anything in transition and so, overall, I am happy,” said Ferguson.
Raymond Watson, coach of KC, said his team played well despite the defeat.
“It was a very good game from us, but congratulations to JC on the victory. I am very happy and proud of my team because we showed a lot of fighting spirit despite going two goals down in the match,” he said.
KC, who dominated the early exchanges in the first half, should have taken the lead in the fifth minute, but Jaheem Johnson failed to hit the target from 12 yards.
JC’s Saviola Blake also came close to scoring for his team 10 minutes later, but with goalkeeper Malique Williams at his mercy, he shot wide of the target.
JC’s defenders played brilliantly throughout the first half as they shut down KC’s talisman Richards who managed only two shots on target in the period.
Aldridge, who was playing on the left flank, collected a past from Ximines deep into KC’s half before dribbling away from two defenders to calmly slot the ball home.
Ximines, who played brilliantly throughout the match, doubled JC’s lead six minutes into the second half with a neat finish past Williams in goal.
The livewire Aldridge, who tormented the KC defenders with his swift dribbling skills and clever off-the-ball movements, increased his team’s advantage a few minutes later, but his close-range header went wide of the target.
Richards pulled one back for KC when he fired home an excellent 25-yard free kick past custodian Jason Charles, who was well beaten at his near post.
— Robert Bailey
