ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — Humble Lion Football Club (FC) and Tru-Juice Football Club will meet in the final of the Jamaica Football Championships on Sunday at Ferdie Neita Park, starting at 3:30 pm.

With promotion already secured, Sunday’s final will be played for the championship title and bragging rights after both teams advanced on penalties in their semi-final ties.

Humble Lion secured an immediate return to the JPL after defeating Sakka Club Browns Town 5-3 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in their second-leg semi-final at Drax Hall.

Tru-Juice, meanwhile, booked their first-ever place in the JPL after edging Reno FC 4-3 on penalties under difficult, rain-soaked conditions at Llandilo.

Both first-leg semi-finals ended in 0-0 draws. The two promoted clubs will replace Harbour View FC and Spanish Town Police FC, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

The race to reach the semi-finals was closely contested, as the top three teams in both zones finished within three points of each other.

Tru-Juice topped Zone A with 35 points, finishing one point ahead of Sakka Club Browns Town, while Jamaica Defence Force ended third on 32 points. In Zone B, Humble Lion amassed 34 points to finish one point clear of Reno FC, with Roaring River placing third on 31 points.

After qualifying for the semi-finals in four of the last five seasons, the Linstead-based Tru-Juice finally made the breakthrough and will hope to end the season on a high.

Amid the celebrations following their semi-final victory, Tru-Juice head coach Craig Richards said his team fully deserved its success after what he described as a “productive season”.

Richards said the statistics proved their dominance, “We scored the most goals in the league. We have the number one striker in the league.”

Humble Lion, meanwhile, accomplished their primary objective of earning an immediate return to the Jamaica Premier League after relegation at the end of the 2024-25 season.

— Paul A Reid