Montego Bay United edge 10-man Chapelton Maroons, extend JPL lead
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Montego Bay United extended their lead in the Jamaica Premier League after coming from behind to beat 10-man Chapelton Maroons 2-1 in their first round game played at Turners Field in Clarendon.
Montego Bay are on 16 points, four more than Racing United and Portmore United who played out a 0-0 draw at Ferdie Neita Park, with Waterhouse, defending champions Cavalier and Chapelton Maroons all on 10 points each.
Chapelton, who are now winless in their last four games, took the lead in the sixth minute when Andrew Vanzie converted a penalty kick.
Okeemo Jones equalised for Montego Bay when he scored his first-ever JPL goal, a freekick in the 31st minute from just outside the Chapelton Maroons 18-yard box, beating goalkeeper Riquelme Edwards into the top far corner.
Dwight Merrick completed the comeback when he scored the winning goal in the 53rd minute.
For the second straight game, Chapelton Maroons completed the game a player short after Carlton Brown was shown a second yellow card in the 82nd minute.
Waterhouse FC also came from a goal down but had to settle for a draw at Drewsland against Mt Pleasant FA, who were rescued by goalkeeper Tafari Chambers who saved a late penalty.
Jamoi Topey gave Mt Pleasant FA the lead in the 20th minute when he headed past goalkeeper Akeem Bernard but Kenly Deacon equalised 15 minutes later when he scored in his second straight game.
Waterhouse were awarded a penalty in the 76th minute but Chambers, who committed the foul against Deacon to give up the spot kick, saved Javane Bryan’s effort.
Cavalier won back-to-back games for the first time this season, blanking Tivoli Gardens 2-0 at the Edward Seaga Complex to move up to fifth in the points table.
Christopher Ainsworth and Jamilhio Rigters scored for the defending champions in the 77th minute and time added respectively. Tivoli Gardens finished the game with 10 men after Janoi Williams was sent off in the 85th minute.
In the first game played at Drewsland, Molynes United came from two goals down at halftime to earn a 2-2 draw with promoted Spanish Town Police FC. Former Nigerian youth international Wisdom Ubani scored a double after coming on as a substitute to earn the draw for Molynes.
Spanish Town Police, who had scored just one goal in their previous six games, had their best 45 minutes of the season as they led at the break with goals from Jordan Elliston in the 34th minute and Diamond Clarke in the 43rd minute.
Ubani pulled a goal back for Molynes United in the 60th minute before completing his brace in the 76th minute to salvage a point for his team.