ST JAMES, Jamaica — Debutantes Ocho Rios High and two-time champions Jamaica College qualified for the semi-finals of the ISSA/Wata Champions Cup competition after respective 2-0 wins over St Catherine High and McGrath High in the opening round of the competition at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Friday.

Keanu Reid scored a double for Ocho Rios High who are on a historic run, qualifying for their second semi-finals after booking a spot in the daCosta Cup final four.

Despite playing a man down from the 14th minute when goalkeeper Taywayne Lynch was sent off, Jamaica College booked their spot in the semis, thanks to a second half brace from Dyllan John.

Ocho Rios High and Jamaica College will meet in one semi-final set for next week at the National Stadium after winning games that followed similar scripts, both capitalising on their chances against teams wasting numerous chances.

St Catherine High got off to a better start against Ocho Rios but despite forcing the St Ann school back into their own half for long periods in the first half, wasted their chances.

Ocho Rios made them pay when Reid completed a swift counter attack by beating goalkeeper Omarion Brown with a shot into the far left corner of the goal in the 42nd minute.

As expected, St Catherine threw everything into attack at the start of the second half but left their defence open for another counter attack, this time Reid went to his left and lured Brown off his line before firing into the far corner in the 55th minute.

Ocho Rios took over the game and should have added more goals but Brown pulled off several saves to keep the scores respectable.

Jamaica College were down to 10 men from early and was replaced by a nervous looking Adriano Kitson who put his team under pressure by dropping the ball in his own area several times.

Jamaica College’s Dyllan John (right) watches McGrath High’s Devone Davis in their ISSA/Wata Champions Cup quarter-final game played at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Friday. John scored both goals to lead 10-man Jamaica College to a 2-0 win. (Photo: Paul Reid)

The McGrath High players were not able to capitalise, however, and John scored in the 60th minute and in time added on, both from counter attacks.

— Paul A Reid