CONQUERORS!
Mount Pleasant FA plant their flag atop region’s peak in Caribbean Cup final
Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s years of heavy investment bore further fruit on Tuesday after winning the Concacaf Caribbean Cup for the first time in their history.
Leading 1-0 heading into Tuesday’s second leg, the St Ann-based club did just enough in their match against Dominican Republic’s O&M FC as they came from behind twice to draw 2-2 on the night which saw them win 3-2 on aggregate.
Second-half goals from Warner Brown and Tyreek Magee ensured Mount Pleasant won their second-ever title at the professional level while becoming only the second Jamaican team to win the Caribbean Cup, joining Cavalier FC.
It’s another feather in the cap for Theodore Whitmore after winning the Jamaica Premier League in 2023, along with his achievements as Reggae Boyz head coach, which includes a Caribbean Cup title and a Concacaf Gold Cup final appearance in 2017.
The victory also means Mount Pleasant automatically advances to the round of 16 of the Concacaf Champions Cup where they could join Cavalier in meeting Argentine great Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami CF team.
It seemed it would have been a straightforward night for Mount Pleasant who were given a gift in the 25th minute when O&M’s Junior Capellan was shown a red card following a video assistant referee (VAR) review.
However, that seemed to stir on the men from Dom Rep who got the important away goal in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage. Herard Frantzety got behind Mount Pleasant’s backline and lobbed it over goalkeeper Tafari Chambers to level the score on aggregate.
At the start for the second half, Mount Pleasant would make a number of changes including Brown, who found the equaliser in the 64th minute to put Mount Pleasant ahead on aggregate.
The jubiliation would only last mere minutes as Julen Olasagasti put O&M back in front to make it 2-2 on aggregate with the away goal advantage on their side.
Things looked like it wouldn’t go Mount Pleasant’s way but substitute Magee turned out to be the hero when he fired home in the 88th minute.
Raheem Edwards (left) of Mount Pleasant is challenged by O&M FC’s Jose Matos. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
O&M FC’s Junior Capellan (14) is sent off for violent conduct during the first half of the second leg of their Concacaf Caribbean Cup final against Mount Pleasant FA at the National Stadium last night. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
