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Racing hold champions Cavalier
January 21, 2025
A spirited Racing United held lacklustre Cavalier Soccer Club to a 1-1 draw in their Jamaica Premier League (JPL) football game at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday night.
Newly promoted Racing United stayed unbeaten against the defending champions in two meetings this season.
Tajay Grant gave Racing the lead after 27 minutes, but captain Richard King salvaged a point for the defending champions with a 76th-minute strike.
"When Racing came today, I was really surprised by their energy levels," Cavalier head coach Rudolph Speid said.
"It is probably the second youngest team in the competition. They ran for 90 minutes, a really good effort from them.
"The type of game they were playing was unsettling and maybe that's why we took so long to get the measure of them, especially in the first half," he noted.
Racing were all over the champions from the opening whistle, as they did all of the serious attacking play.
Their industry was rewarded when Grant cut in on his right foot and slammed a shot inside Vino Barclett's near post from inside the area for a 1-0 lead.
Cavalier tried to claw their way back into the match in the last eight minutes of the half, but their attacks were uninspiring and produced no real sight at goal.
Racing United, on the other hand, were always dangerous, but their final pass, in most instances when they created good openings, were lacking in quality.
CAVALIER'S INTENT
Racing started the second half as if they would continue where they left off, but Christopher Ainsworth signalled Cavalier's intent with a well struck volley that was blocked.
However, Racing kept the Cavalier defence honest and Ronaldo Biggs twice tested Barclett with strikes from inside the area.
Nevertheless, Cavalier continued their hunt for the equaliser and Shan San Millan just missed with a header from a corner in the 72nd minute.
Four minutes later, Cavalier levelled the scores when the Racing defence failed to clear from a corner and King lashed home the loose ball from inside the box.
"Cavalier don't like dribblers," said Racing coach Anthony Patrick. "We put four dribblers up top to just run at them very early and just push them back as quick as possible, and I think it paid off.
"We wanted the three points, so it is unfortunate we could not get the points. We could step up to eighth position or ninth, but we still have a lot of games to go," Patrick noted.
Cavalier are fourth on 34 points and Racing are 10th with 16.
Meanwhile, in the first game of the doubleheader, Montego Bay United defeated Molynes United 2-0, thanks to a goal and an assist from Shaniel Thomas.
Thomas set up Jourdain Fletcher to score from close range, one minute after the break,
Then five minutes later the forward stabbed home a cross from five yards, as MoBay United climbed to 37 points, and back into second place on goal difference over Arnett Gardens.
Molynes United stayed ninth with 17 points.
