KINGSTON, Jamaica – Glenmuir High shocked high-flying Clarendon College 3-2 at the National Stadium to win their first ISSA Champions Cup title in a pulsating final played on Saturday.

Clarendon College went into the game with an unbeaten record through 18 games in all competitions but a red card to Nahshon Bolt-Barrett early in the second half turned the tide in favour of Glenmuir High who became the eighth team and third daCosta Cup team to lift the trophy.

Glenmuir High avenged their 2-1 loss to Clarendon earlier this season – in the quarterfinals, after both teams had already secured passage through to the semi-finals.

On Saturday, Clarendon took an early lead but Glenmuir equalised and led 3-1 before an added time penalty cut the deficit to one.

Keheim Dixon, who scored both goals in the semi-final win over Hydel High, gave Clarendon the lead in the 18th minute, finishing off a three-man move, firing in from close range.

Ja-son white equalised with a one time shot from just outside the 18 yards area, the ball flying past goal-keeper Roshae Burrell into the goal.

Clarendon went down to 10 players in the 51st minute when Bolt-Burrell dragged down Orane Watson who then fired a splendidly struck free kick to take the lead.

Despite playing a man short, Clarendon could have come back and struck both posts in one sequence in the 71st minute. Dixon hit the far right post with a well-measured shot and, after Glenmuir failed to get the ball out of their area, Malachi Douglas hit the left post before the ball was scrambled out.

Glenmuir extended their lead thanks to a blunder by Burrell, who was well out of his goal area and misplayed a ball. Watson made no mistake from about 40 yards out finding the empty goal.

There was late drama when the Glenmuir goalkeeper Antwone Gooden fouled Dixon inside the box deep into time added and Douglas buried the resulting penalty kick.

Gooden however redeemed himself minutes later when he was well placed to block two shots and preserve his team’s slender lead.

-Paul A Reid