Jamaica College and Calabar High had a positive start to the second round of the Inter-secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Digicel Manning Cup as they played out an entertaining 3-3 stalemate in Group Four at Stadium East on Saturday.
Many-time champions Jamaica College entered the contest slightly favoured and had their goals from Jahmarly Bennett (10th), Nashordo Gibbs (16th), and a 75th-minute own-goal from Calabar's Damano Blackwood.
But it is Calabar, contesting the second round of the tournament for the first time in many years, that left happiest, as they got goals from Obryan Marks (4th), Kevaun Campbell (59th), and the talismanic Jaheim Rankine (90+1) to secure a share of the spoils.
With the result, both teams sit joint top of the group on a point, with Charlie Smith and St Catherine doing battle in the late group contest.
Calabar's Head coach Andrew Price was delighted at the manner in which his team stepped up to the challenge.
"We told the youngsters to continue to fight; we have been underdogs all season because people didn't expect us to be where we are right now but we came out here and we fought and showed some character. We believe in ourselves and we believe we can get results against good teams.
"I told the team we are stepping up in class and we will be up against good teams and Jamaica College is an excellent team. So to get a points out of this must be a plus for us going into the remainder of the round," Price said in a post-match interview.
It was a frantic start for the boys from Red Hills Road, as they stunned their more fancied rivals when Marks unleashed a one-time effort from a distance that caught Jamaica College's custodian Nathaniel Aiken off his line.
However, the lead lasted a mere six minutes, as Bennett pulled Jamaica College level with his fourth goal of the season from the penalty spot after Amarlie King was taken out inside the area.
The game continued at a decent tempo as Jamaica College grabbed the ascendancy six minutes later when Gibbs well-taken free kick from way out eluded all and sundry and bounced into the net for his eighth of the season.
They should have added another in the 43rd, but Gibbs dragged his right-footer wide of the target after doing well to dismiss his marker.
Minutes later, Giovanni Taylor went on the break, but he too failed to maintain his composure and fired high and wide.
The Old Hope Road boys enjoying a decent passage of play had another chance to add to their tally before the break. However, Omari Grant, in goal for Calabar, did well to deny Jabarie Howell from close range.
Both teams continued to trade blows on the resumption as Calabar pulled level on the stroke of the hour-mark when Campbell arrived in time to tap in from close range after Aiken spilled Jaiquan Stewarts's cross.
However, the 'Dark Blues' again stuck the nose in front when Gibbs' attempted cross was turned in by the hapless Blackwood to put Jamaica College 3-2 up.
With their motto stating 'the utmost to the highest,' Calabar didn't relent and just when it seemed as Jamaica College had the three points in the bag, Rankine came to the fore with a lovely left-footed drive that took a wicked deflection to steal a point for his team in time added.
Jamaica College's assistant coach Raymond Watson rued his team's wastefulness.
"It's three points lost than a point gained. I thought we had many moments to put away the game, especially in the first half and we just gave it up. We kept doing individual things instead of playing for the team and that cost us in the end," Watson noted.
Saturday's early results
Jamaica College 3, Calabar 3
Eltham 2, Excelsior 3
Sherdon Cowan is a five-time award-winning journalist with 10 years' experience covering sports.
Unai Emery sets Champions League mission as Aston Villa edge Southampton win
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is quickly turning his attention to the UEFA Champions League following their 1-0 Premier League win over Southampton.
Jhon Duran's first-half goal sealed successive league victories for Emery on the back of three straight top-flight losses against rivals Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Victory against the Saints is a vital boost for Emery ahead of a crucial few weeks of action before the end of 2024.
Villa head to RB Leipzig on 10 December, looking to push their case for a spot in the Round of 16, followed by four more league clashes this month.
The immediate focus for Emery is on Leipzig, with Villa's contrasting European form a cause for concern, despite a brilliant start on their Champions League debut.
Three straight wins in their first appearance in the competition since it was renamed – including an historic 1-0 home victory over Bayern Munich – put Villa in a strong position, but defeat to Club Brugge and a 0-0 tie with Juventus has stalled their momentum.
The former Arsenal chief wants this result to act as a platform for his team ahead of their tricky trip to Germany in midweek.
"Over the 90 minutes we had chances to score more, but sometimes they dominated possession. We managed the game plan to try and find a way to win," as per quotes from BBC Sport.
"The most important thing is how we're progressively getting more comfortable on the field. We had to use substitutions because we have the Champions League on Tuesday. Three matches in nine days. We have to be ready with the players we have available to try and enjoy the competition.
"The Champions League is something we have to enjoy, but we also focus on the difficulties in the Premier League, and the challenge against Nottingham Forest is something else. But, we have to try and get to the next round of the Champions League."
Up next for Villa is that Midlands derby with Forest, followed by a crunch clash at home to Manchester City on 21 December.
A win for Villa puts them up to fifth in the table, but defeat for Southampton registers as their 12th league loss of the campaign so far, with Russell Martin's team still rooted to the foot of the table.
Individual mistakes are becoming a theme, and centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis was robbed by Duran for Villa's winner, with Martin left to rue a familiar frustrating story for his team.
"We gave away a poor goal when it was a good, tight game. We changed shape and then the game became transitional. They were trying to find another goal, so it became very open," he said.
"We're two v one, and we had a chance to clear the ball, and we don't. It's another mistake. We forced them long, and then we had another two v one, and he [Duran] somehow comes out with the ball and scores."
Up next for Southampton is a home tie with Tottenham next weekend, followed by an EFL Cup quarter-final at home to Liverpool on December 18.
JFF, Reggae Boyz Head Coach wish Antonio speedy recovery after car crash
The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has issued a statement wishing for the speedy recovery of Reggae Boyz and West Ham United striker Michail Antonio following a motor vehicle accident in Essex on Saturday.
Since news of the accident, West Ham have confirmed that Antonio is in stable condition at a London Hospital, conscious and communicating under careful supervision.
JFF President Michael Ricketts and Reggae Boyz Head Coach Steve McClaren have both offered world of encouragement to Antonio in the statement sent out by the federation this afternoon.
"On behalf of the entire group of players, support staff and technical staff, I would like to wish Michail a speedy recovery. Our thoughts and prayers are with him at this time,” McClaren said.
“On behalf of the entire Jamaica Football Federation family, I would like to wish Michail a safe and speedy recovery. At this point let us keep him in our prayers as he recovers,” Ricketts added.
Further updates will be issued in due course between West Ham United in collaboration with the Jamaica Football Federation.
Guardiola 'so proud' of Man City despite Palace draw
Pep Guardiola saluted Manchester City's fight and insisted he is "so proud of the team", despite them dropping more points in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace.
City were forced to come from behind in each half at Selhurst Park, where Erling Haaland and Rico Lewis cancelled out efforts from Daniel Munoz and Maxence Lacroix.
The reigning Premier League champions are now winless in their last four away games, while they have won just one of their last nine matches in all competitions.
City sit fourth in the table and eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand after their scheduled Merseyside Derby against Everton was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.
Nevertheless, Guardiola paid tribute to his players.
Assessing the performance, he said: "Really good. So proud of the team. I liked everything about the team, how we fought. We have a lot of problems with our squad.
"We fought incredibly. We came back twice. It's a difficult place to come. We struggled in the beginning. We gave everything, and we take a point.
"We started the second half a bit sloppy. After [going 2-1 down], we reacted well."
However, Bernardo Silva could not hide his frustration at City's recent poor form.
"With Man City it's always two points lost," he told BBC Sport. "One point is better than zero, but we're not happy at the moment. We know our situation with injuries.
"Coming to Crystal Palace is never easy, but we have to do better. When I finish a game and I get a point, I'm not happy. It's not the way we built this team, it's not our standard.
"We have to do better, we have to react better to the second balls. We have to give them less opportunities from set-pieces.
"We're in December. We'd like to be in a different position. The last month-and-a-half has not been good enough."
Meanwhile, Palace moved up to 16th after extending their unbeaten run to four matches, and Oliver Glasner felt the Eagles were unfortunate not to take maximum points.
"We are pleased with the point and many parts of the performance," he said. "It feels like if we'd performed at our best level, we could have won the game.
"An unbeaten week with draws against Newcastle and Manchester City, everything is fine. We want to improve and get better in some situations, and we could win those games.
"After having the lead twice, especially after 2-1, we got too passive. It's not that easy against City, it's not a criticism of the players, but when you're in your own third, it's a matter of time. A gap of one yard, they find it with one or two touches.
"The players are in a very good situation and shape. We have more and more options. The results give us confidence."
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