Defending champions Garvey Maceo secured a 2-0 home win over their closest challengers, Vere Technical, to take over top spot in Zone N of the ISSA/Digicel daCosta Cup on Saturday.
Penalties from Nevaughn Myrie in the 48th minute and Orlando Lawrence in the 91st means Garvey Maceo now find themselves top with 13 points from five games, three points ahead of their Saturday opponents. Foga Road also has 10 points in third thanks to a 1-0 win over Kemps Hill at home.
Irwin, after three straight draws, returned to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Green Pond at Green Pond to remain top of Zone A. They now have 18 points from eight games. Green Pond has 10 points from seven games and started the day in second but were passed after 12-time champions Cornwall College secured a crucial 4-0 win over Anchovy at Irwin to move to 12 points from their seven outings.
At the Orchard Sports Complex, Frome Technical comfortably beat Hopewell 5-1 for their sixth win in as many games to lead Zone B ahead of Rusea’s who has 15 points from their six games.
William Knibb leads Zone C with a perfect 15 points from five games after a 9-0 hammering of Muschett High at Muschett. So far, they have amassed 33 goals and are one of only two teams yet to concede a goal in this year’s daCosta Cup, the other being Zone E leaders STETHS. Cedric Titus can also boast a perfect record through five games in Zone C after a 2-1 win over Herbert Morrison at Herbert Morrison.
The only Zone D game on Saturday saw Petersfield got to Godfrey Stewart and get an important 4-1 win over the hosts to strengthen their hold on second in the zone. Going into the game, Petersfield had 12 points, 10 behind leaders Manning’s, while Godfrey Stewart had nine but had played one more game than their opponents.
STETHS are still perfect after eight games in Zone E thanks to a comfortable 6-0 win over Sydney Pagon at home. As previously mentioned, the five-time champions have still yet to concede a goal and have scored 20. In the day’s other zone game, Munro College beat Maggotty 1-0 at home to join B. B Coke on 13 points from eight games, eleven points behind the leaders from St. Elizabeth.
Zone G leaders Holmwood Technical were held to a 0-0 draw by Mile Gully at home to move to 14 points from six matches, four points ahead of Christiana High who beat Alphansus Davis 2-1 at Alphansus Davis. Mile Gully also has 10 points in third. Christiana has played a game less than both Holmwood and Mile Gully.
Clarendon College now has 18 points from a possible 18 in Zone H after a 3-0 win over Lennon High at Toll Gate. Edwin Allen are now seven points behind in second after a 5-0 win over Thompson Town at home. Lennon are four points behind Edwin Allen in third.
Marcus Garvey got their first win of the season in their sixth game in Zone I by beating Ocho Rios 1-0 at Drax Hall.
There were 17 goals in three games in Zone J. Westmoreland Oval was the venue as leaders Tacky and Annotto Bay battled to a 3-3 draw. Tacky now have 16 points from eight games. St, Mary High moved within three points of Tacky in second thanks to a 3-1 win over Wycliffe Martin High at the latter. St. Mary Tech are third with 11 points after going to Horace Clarke and beating the hosts 4-2.
Fair Prospect battled to a 4-4 draw with Port Antonio at home in Zone O for their first point of the season while leaders Happy Grove and second-placed Titchfield both have nine points from five games after a 2-2 draw at Hector’s River.
Reynolds and McElhenney's Wrexham get their Hollywood meeting with Man Utd
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are taking Wrexham to the United States, where the non-league club will face Manchester United.
San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium will host the friendly on July 25.
Wrexham, who this month signed former United goalkeeper Ben Foster, are pushing for promotion from the National League.
They sit three points clear of Notts County, while they also reached the fourth round of the FA Cup, losing to Sheffield United, who have gone on to reach the semi-finals.
The Welsh club were bought by Hollywood A-listers Reynolds and McElhenney in 2020.
"We're looking forward to being able to play in the United States for the first time in the club's history," said Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson.
Wrexham last faced United in an FA Cup tie in 1995. The Red Devils' team will be mainly made up of academy players.
Tedesco: I have nothing to prove to the Germans
Domenico Tedesco does not believe he has anything to prove on his return to Germany with new side Belgium after previously being sacked by RB Leipzig and Schalke.
Leipzig parted company with Tedesco in September 2022, nine months after he took up the position, despite winning the DFB-Pokal in the 2021-22 campaign.
The 37-year-old was also ousted by Schalke in March 2019, a year on from guiding the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.
But ahead of Belgium's friendly with Germany in Cologne on Tuesday, Tedesco insists he is content with what he achieved across his two spells in the country where he grew up.
"I love my job and I am happy with what I have already achieved," he said at Monday's pre-match press conference.
"I always want to win, but I feel I have nothing to prove to the Germans. The coach is not that important, either – the players make the difference."
Germany and Belgium endured disappointing World Cup campaigns, each exiting at the group stage in Qatar despite pre-tournament hopes being high.
Four-time world champions Germany have slipped to 14th in the FIFA rankings – 10 places below Belgium – but that is not a true reflection of their quality in the view of Tedesco.
"How is it possible that they're 14th?" he asked reporters. "At the World Cup in Qatar they had so many chances, they just didn't score enough.
"No one had more expected goals than Germany. Even if Germany were last in the FIFA rankings, that wouldn't change anything. We want to win, even if it's a friendly game.
"Germany have a few new young players, but they are players from top teams. They remain a strong country."
Germany beat Peru 2-0 on Saturday, while Belgium kicked off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win in Sweden on Friday thanks to Romelu Lukaku's hat-trick.
The 29-year-old has 71 goals in 105 senior international appearances, but he has struggled this term for club side Inter, where he is on loan from Chelsea for the campaign.
However, Tedesco says there is more to Lukaku's game than goals alone.
"Don't judge him solely on that," the Italian said. "He is looking in good shape and was proud after scoring his hat-trick – rightly so.
"I want him to be happy. He has the qualities to play for any side, including Inter. He is a good guy and he deserves to be happy when he plays."
Kai Havertz and Nico Schlotterbeck have been ruled out for Germany, while first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has not made the trip for Belgium.
That means a rare chance to shine for Koen Casteels, who is perhaps better known to the home fans having spent made than a decade in the Bundesliga.
"I don't have to show myself in Germany anymore – they know me here," the Wolfsburg goalkeeper said. "Germany is my second home. It's nice to play here.
"I feel a lot of recognition in Germany, maybe more than in Belgium. I am spoken of more positively here; in Belgium less so. I have resigned myself to that.
"I owe a lot to Germany and also have German punctuality picked up, but after my career I'm just going to live in Belgium again."
'It's been unforgettable' – Conte thanks fans after Spurs exit
Antonio Conte thanked Tottenham fans for their "unforgettable" support as he broke his silence following his exit from the club.
Conte left Spurs by mutual consent on Sunday, a week on from a remarkable outburst after a 3-3 draw with bottom side Southampton in which his side squandered a two-goal lead late on.
The Italian labelled his players "selfish" and questioned the club's lack of silverware during Daniel Levy's time as chairman.
That tirade ultimately cost him his job, with assistant Cristian Stellini taking charge until the end of the season as Spurs bid to finish in the Premier League top four for a second straight campaign.
Conte posted on Instagram on Monday, thanking Spurs and their fans while wishing them luck for the future.
"Football is passion," Conte said. "I would like to deeply thank everyone at Spurs who appreciated and shared my passion and my intense way of living football as a coach.
"A special thought to the fans who always showed me support and appreciation, it's been unforgettable to hear them singing my name.
"Our journey together has ended, I wish you all the best for the future."
Spurs' first game in the post-Conte era will be a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on April 3, as they look to cling onto the fourth spot that they currently occupy to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.
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