Molynes face Goliaths Mt Pleasant for Challenge Cup title |
Mount Pleasant Football Academy and Molynes United will battle for supremacy in the inaugural final of the Popeyes Challenge Cup today at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 8 p.m.
The two teams will go head to head for the title after navigating several rounds of competition in the knockout tournament.
Molynes, the sixth-ranked team from the Jamaica Premier League (JPL), entered the competition at the third round where they defeated Sakka Club Brown’s Town 2-1.
They moved on to the quarter-finals where they faced Tru-Juice FC, coming from behind to win the game 2-1 and book their spot in the semi-finals.
There, Molynes faced their toughest challenge yet, drawn against Montego Bay United, but the Jermaine Thomas-led club rose to the challenge.
They thumped MoBay United 5-2 on a rainy afternoon and booked their tickets to today’s final.
Molynes will be looking to their usual cast of goalscorers to lead the way in the final as Tyrique Wilson leads the team will three goals, followed by Nicholas Nelson and Rashawn Livingston, who have scored two each.
Lifting the trophy would be a major achievement for Molynes, who have never won a top-flight title in their history. Antoine Lodge/Photographer
Former national player and assistant coach Xavian Virgo said it would also lift the club’s spirit after their disappointing campaign in the JPL, where they narrowly avoided 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,” Virgo explained.
MASSIVE TASK
But for Molynes to lift the title, they will need to get past the Goliath that is Mount Pleasant, one of the most dominant teams in Jamaican football over the past few years.
Mount Pleasant entered the Challenge Cup at the third round, where they thumped Lime Hall 5-0 in dominant fashion, before getting past Chapelton Maroons on penalties in the quarter-finals.
Their semi-final fixture saw them go up against giant-killers Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), who they easily dispatched 6-1.
Mount Pleasant are seeking a to add to their JPL title in 2023 and their Concacaf Caribbean Cup title last year.
The St Ann-based club will enter the final as heavy favourites with a favourable record against Molynes, winning 10 of their last 16 meetings.
But Theodore ‘Tappa’ Whitmore, head coach of Mount Pleasant, said their record will not play a role in today’s final and they expect a stern challenge from Molynes.
“I’m very excited [for the final], but every game we play is a tough game, and we look forward to a tough game against our opponents come Tuesday afternoon.”
Molynes have beaten Mount Pleasant twice in that run of 16 games.
Caption
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Mount Pleasant Football Academy’s Daniel Green dribbles away from thee Jamaica Defence Force’s Kambuji McCalla during the Popeyes Challenge Cup semi-final at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston on Sunday.
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Antoine Lodge/Photographer
Javaughn Anglin of Montego Bay United Football Club (left) tries to move away from Damion Thomas of Molynes United FC during the Popeyes Challenge Cup semi-final at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex in Kingston on Sunday.