The quarter-final group stage of the Jamaica Independent Schools’ Association (JISA) Alberga Cup Under-12 football competition hits high gear today when the six winners from Saturday’s opening round go up against each other in a mad sprint towards the semi-finals.

Group A front-runners Hillel Academy and Sts Peter and Paul will lock horns, as Emmanuel Christian Academy (ECA) vs Morris Knibb and Vaz vs Liberty Academy highlighting the day’s action.

In the other matches today, Belair will host American International School of Kingston (AISK), El Instituto will face Mona, and Lannaman’s and Wolmer’s will square off against each other.

Vaz, which only qualified as the best third-place team, delivered the biggest shock on Saturday when they defeated title contenders Mona 3-2 in their Group B contest at Sts Peter and Paul Prep. It was Mona’s first loss of the season and the only time they have conceded more than one goal in a game.

Liberty Academy had to dig deep in their match on Saturday against El Instituto, with a last-minute strike proving the difference for the Hope Road-based school.

They will today face a confident Vaz team, with both teams looking to take control of Group B.

Hillel Academy made light work of AISK, brushing them aside 4-0 in a one-sided affair that gave them the edge in Group A on goal difference ahead of Sts Peter and Paul, who were 4-1 winners over Belair in their matchup.

The two will clash at Hillel today in what is likely to be a fiery contest, with a foot in the semi-final round up for grabs.

ECA were hardly tested on Saturday as they got the better of defending champions Lannaman’s by a 3-0 margin and are favoured to lock up Group C with a win today against this season’s surprise package Morris Knibb, who got off to a good start on Saturday with a 4-2 win away to Wolmer’s Prep.