As the rain poured down, so did the goals as Molynes United and Mount Pleasant Football Academy advanced to the final of the Popeyes Challenge Cup with emphatic wins over Montego Bay United and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) on Saturday at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Fourteen goals were scored across the two semi-finals as Molynes thumped Montego Bay United 5-2 to book their spot in the finale, while Mount Pleasant dispatched JDF 6-1 in their encounter.
In a match-up where many thought Montego Bay would have walked away comfortable victors, Molynes stunned the crowd as they opened a two-goal lead in the first half through strikes from Zubeiru Suleiman and Tyrique Wilson in the 25th and 45th minutes of play.
The second half was a goal frenzy as Montego Bay looked to take control of the game as they pulled level with two quick strikes from Malachi Sterling in the 59th minute and Deverow McKenzie just past the hour mark.
Molynes quickly shut the door on Montego Bay’s growing momentum when Wilson bagged a brace, scoring directly from a free kick in the 80th minute.
Rashawn Livingston made it four for Molynes in the 87th with a brilliant solo effort before the winner added the cherry on top with a goal in time added.
Molynes assistant coach Xavian Virgo said the team’s run in the Challenge Cup continues to be a massive boost to make up for their disappointing Jamaica Premier League campaign where they barely managed to avoid relegation.
“Definitely, it can lift many spirits, even the younger players, who can watch and see that even though we went through a rough phase during the [Jamaica] Premier League season, we can still salvage something at the end of the year,” he explained.The second semi-final was another battle between David and Goliath, but this time it was Goliath who came out victors.
Mount Pleasant put an abrupt end to JDF’s Cinderella run in the Challenge Cup and opened the scoring through a long-range effort from Demario Phillips in the 37th minute.
Tejaurn Williams pulled one back for JDF two minutes later, but that was all she (?) wrote for the Jamaica Championship team as Mount Pleasant went on a goal-scoring frenzy.
Daniel Green restored Mount Pleasant’s lead in added time of the first half before Alex Marshall got his goal in the 48th minute.
Demarko Smith made it four in the 75ht minute as Green returned for his brace with a goal in the 90th minute.
The St Ann-based club added their final goal to their tally through Jahshaun Anglin in time added to complete JDF’s second-half collapse.
Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, Mount Pleasant’s head coach, praised his team for their performance and said it was important to get a statement win ahead of the final.
“It was very important that we win this game and get into the final. I think it was a good performance, and we saw some good stuff this afternoon,” Whitmore said.
“Even when we injected our youngsters, I think they came and showed a lot and offered a lot to the game.”
