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Chapelton Maroons are Tier II champions
June 24, 2024
Chapelton Maroons returned to the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) in style after an extra-time 2-1 win over regular season champions Racing United in the final of the Jamaica Football Championship (Tier II) at the UWI/JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence yesterday.
In a game dominated by Racing, Shavaun Reid fired the St Catherine-based team in front after 15 minutes but Tremaine Williamson equalised for Chapelton 10 minutes later.
The scores remained level until Malike Stephens scored the all-important goal in the 114th minute.
Chapelton coach Byjeon Thomas said it wasn't their most eye-catching performance but they showed resilience to come away victors.
"I don't think it was our best game today (Sunday). But we fought and in the end I thought that gave us the victory. It was very nerve-racking. But at the end of the day the team fought and they won and I am grateful for that," said Thomas.
Racing defeated Maroons twice in the regular season and started the game as the favourites.
They were also better out of the blocks and they went ahead after 15 minutes when Reid opened the scoring.
Despite being second best, Maroons showed moments of quality and in the 25th minute Williamson scored to restore parity.
However, Racing continued to have the better of play but wasted a number of good chances to go into the break with the advantage.
The Clarendon-based Chapelton started the second half brightly and had a couple of good chances at the start of the period. However, Racing regained the ascendency but continued to squander their scoring chances.
Racing had their best chance for the win when Kadeem Young had the goalkeeper at his mercy deep into second half extra-time but he put the ball wide of the target.
Then minutes later, Stephens latched on to a pass inside the area and fired home the winner.
"Its (missed chances) have been following us for the last few games. We have been creating a lot of chances, got eight chances and Chapelton Maroons created just two. But it's the nature of the game and Chapelton Maroons deserve the win," Racing's coach Anthony Patrick said.
