MAY PEN, Clarendon – The dreams of Clarendon College for a third consecutive ISSA/Wata daCosta Cup championship came crashing down this past Saturday when they fell to Cornwall College 2-1 at Glenmuir High. The loss marked a disappointing end to their campaign, as they finished last in their Round of 16 group, managing only one victory throughout the season.
Cornwall College set the tone for the match early on, with Deshaun Talbert converting a penalty in the 32nd minute, giving them a crucial lead. Just before the halftime whistle, Dante Escoffrey extended the advantage to 2-0 in the 43rd minute. Despite a consolation goal from Nicholy Forbes in the 73rd minute for Clarendon, it was too little, too late for the two-time defending champions.
Meanwhile, other teams were securing their places in the next round. Munro College and Frome Technical faced off in a dull goalless draw at Llandilo Community Centre, but both advanced due to prior strong performances in the group stage.
Ocho Rios High made a dramatic entry into the quarterfinals with a thrilling 2-2 draw against Dinthill Technical. Keanu Reid was the hero for Ocho Rios, scoring twice, including a last-minute equalizer that dashed Dinthill’s hopes of progression after they had initially taken a 2-0 lead.
In Zone 1 action, St. Elizabeth Technical High (STETHS) solidified their status as group leaders with a 2-0 victory over Kemps Hill High, while Garvey Maceo overwhelmed Alphansus Davis High with a 4-0 win, highlighted by a standout performance from Malik Robinson, who netted two goals.
Frome Technical’s encounter with Munro College was uneventful, reflecting the subdued atmosphere as both teams had already secured their spots in the quarterfinals, leading to a lack of intensity and engagement on the field.
Glenmuir High completed their group stage on a high note, winning all three of their matches and keeping a clean sheet after a narrow 1-0 victory against Happy Grove High, who ended the match with ten men after their leading scorer, Bonny Chisholm, was red-carded in the 80th minute.
Central High also advanced from Zone 4, taking down McGrath High 2-1 in their decisive match, ensuring a spot in the quarterfinals and adding to the excitement as the competition heats up. The stage is now set for the knockout rounds, where teams will battle for glory in the prestigious daCosta Cup.
