MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Fireworks are expected today as teams will be battling for seven of the eight spots in the quarter-finals of the ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup football competition as the Round of 16 comes to a close.

With Group 2 leaders BB Coke High assured of a first-ever place in the quarter-finals, at least 12 other schools are still in contention to join them when the competition continues today with eight games.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the quarter-finals of the daCosta Cup with the other eight qualifying for the first round of the Ben Francis KO competition.

BB Coke lead Group 2 with six points and needs only a point from their game against out-of-contention Tacky High to top the zone and will advance even if they lost the game.

Only one of Manchester High or Happy Grove High, who will meet in a winner-take-all game in Mandeville, can get to six points and with both tied on identical statistics of three points from two games, six goals for and five against, a draw would see the organisers scrambling for the rules books to separate them.

Manchester High are coming off their first loss of the season, beaten 4-2 by BB Coke, while Happy Grove rebounded from their loss to BB Coke High to beat Tacky High on Thursday.

Defending champions Clarendon College are the only team left in the competition with a perfect win record and a point against Cornwall College at Foga Road should be enough to see them through.

With STETHS expected to bounce back from their loss to Clarendon College and beat out-of-contention Mile Gully at Brooks Park, Cornwall College must beat Clarendon College if they are to extend their run in the competition.

A draw against William Knibb Memorial at home would see Dinthill Technical also advance from Group 3, while Christiana High on three points and McGrath High on two will battle out for the other spot.

An upset win for William Knibb would, however, give them the edge over the former two-time champions.

A point apiece should be good enough for Group 4 joint leaders Glenmuir High and Garvey Maceo High when they place Frome Technical and Port Antonio High, respectively.

Both are on four points but Glenmuir High will face Frome Technical at Llandilo where a win for the Westmoreland team would see them advance instead.

Today’s Games

Mile Gully vs STETHS – Brooks Park

Manchester High vs Happy Grove – Manchester High

Tacky High vs BB Coke High – Drax Hall

Clarendon College vs Cornwall College – Foga Road High

Dinthill Technical vs William Knibb Memorial – Dinthill

McGrath High vs Christiana High – Ewarton Sports Complex

Port Antonio High vs Garvey Maceo – Carder Park

Frome Tech vs Glenmuir High – Llandilo Sports Complex

*All games start at 3:00 pm