The 30th and final regular fixture of this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors suffer a heavy 74 run defeat at the hands of Trinbago Knight Riders on home turf in Providence. Despite this loss the Amazon Warriors finish top of the table and will face the Saint Lucia Kings in Qualifier 1 on 2 October. The Knight Riders will face Barbados in the Eliminator match on 1 October.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first the Knight Riders innings got off to a rocky start as Warriors captain Imran Tahir bowled Shaqkere Parris with a perfect googly that completely bamboozled the batter and scudded into the stumps. Tahir wheeled away in celebration but it was to be the last thing his side would have to celebrate for a while on what turned out to be a bruising night.

Nicholas Pooran played one of the finest innings in the history of the CPL by striking a majestic century for the Knight Riders, finishing with 101 off just 59 balls with nine fours and eight sixes to his name. Jason Roy played the anchor role with 34 runs off 26 balls and watched on in awe as Pooran dispatched the Warriors stellar bowling line up to all parts of the Providence stadium.

After Player of the Match Pooran was eventually dismissed at the end of the 16th over – caught behind by Shai Hope off the bowling of Shamar Joseph – Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard (19 off 13) and Keacy Carty (27 off 13) ensured the visitors made it past the 200 mark and set a challenging total of 211-5 for the Warriors to chase.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Shai Hope both got starts but failed to go on and make a decisive big score as the Warriors chase failed to ignite in the face of scoreboard pressure and smart bowling. Waqar Salamkeil’s left arm wrist spin and Terrance Hinds’ medium pace seamers proved the undoing of the home side, the middle overs seeing a bundle of wickets fall as each bowler picked up three wickets apiece.

When Moeen Ali fell with the Warriors score on 88-8 it looked as if the 2023 CPL champions were going to be handed an emphatic 100 plus run defeat but some late order resistance from Gudakesh Motie and Captain Tahir saw them up to a final total of 137 all out.

Nevertheless, it was a chastening 74 run defeat for the Warriors after looking so dominant in their previous four matches and a huge confidence boost to the Knight Riders ahead of next week’s tournament run in.

Defending champions Cavalier SC delivered a commanding 2-0 victory over a 10-man Waterhouse FC at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Sunday, climbing to the top of the Jamaica Premier League standings. Early goals from Jalmaro Calvin and Dwayne Atkinson sealed the win, leaving Waterhouse struggling after goalkeeper Kemar Foster was sent off in the first half.

Cavalier wasted little time asserting their dominance. Calvin fired the opening goal in the 12th minute after Atkinson skillfully turned his defender inside out and set up Calvin to score from six yards out. The defending champions nearly doubled their lead in the 24th minute, but Adrian Reid Jr couldn’t convert a free kick from close range.

Waterhouse’s fortunes worsened in the 32nd minute when a poor back pass from Nickoy Christian forced goalkeeper Kemar Foster into a last-ditch tackle outside the box, resulting in a straight red card. With substitute goalkeeper John Wilson brought on, the pressure mounted. Just three minutes after entering the game, Wilson's pass from the back was intercepted by Atkinson, who slotted home to make it 2-0.

Atkinson nearly added a third goal two minutes before halftime, rattling the crossbar after more defensive errors from Waterhouse. Despite being a man down, Waterhouse showed resilience in the second half, with Elvis Wilson coming close to pulling one back with a towering header that Cavalier’s goalkeeper Vino Barclett had to save at full stretch.

However, Cavalier continued to exploit Waterhouse’s defensive lapses, with Shaquille Stein hitting the post in the 55th minute after another error at the back. Waterhouse failed to mount a significant comeback, and Cavalier comfortably saw out the match to claim their second win of the season.

The victory lifts Cavalier to seven points, one ahead of Harbour View, who secured a 2-1 victory over Molynes United earlier in the day.

Elsewhere, Humble Lion were left frustrated after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 draw with Vere United at the Wembley Centre of Excellence. Dominating much of the match despite the wet conditions, Humble Lion took the lead in the 73rd minute through a penalty from Karim Bryan after Vere defender Michael Forbes was sent off for bringing down Andre Clennon in the box.

However, Vere, despite being a man down, fought back in the dying moments of the game. Substitute schoolboy Kishane Gordon found the back of the net in stoppage time, slotting home after a neat pass from Josiah Daniel to snatch a point for Vere United.

Harbour View made their return to their home ground at Compound a successful one, securing a 2-1 win over Molynes United. The victory moves Harbour View to six points, just behind Cavalier on the Jamaica Premier League table.

In the late game on Sunday, Arnett Gardens and Racing United played to a exciting 1-1 draw.

 

 

The Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) has announced its full support for the referees who took strike action over the weekend, leading to the cancellation of all DaCosta Cup and Manning Cup schoolboy football matches. The referees' strike, which stemmed from safety concerns, has prompted the JFF to back their decision not to officiate until their safety can be guaranteed.

In a statement released on Sunday, the JFF emphasized the importance of referees in football development and stressed the need for their safety while performing their duties.

"The Jamaica Football Federation stands in solidarity and empathizes with the referees in the ongoing 2024 season of ISSA Schoolboy Football. The referees should feel safe when performing their duties, and their decisions on the field should be respected," said JFF General Secretary Dennis Chung.

"The referees are an integral part of football development, and they should not feel threatened in any way when performing their duties. The JFF supports the decision for them not to participate in any ISSA Schoolboy Football matches until they can be assured of their safety. Any further incidents will have more consequential action," Chung added.

The JFF also commended the Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA) for their work in ensuring the professionalism and integrity of referees across the country and extended well wishes for their upcoming assignments.

The strike action by referees was triggered by two recent incidents in the DaCosta Cup competition. In one case, a referee was allegedly physically assaulted by a Dinthill Technical player after a match against McGrath High, leading to disciplinary action by ISSA. Two Dinthill players, Maalick Whyte and Shamair Hutchinson, have been banned from participating in ISSA competitions for one year, while Tyrese Gowe received a three-match suspension. The school has been placed on a three-year probation.

In a separate incident, assistant referee Richard Ball was allegedly struck by a missile thrown by a spectator during a Zone A DaCosta Cup match between Maldon High and Cornwall College on September 14.

The referees' strike prompted ISSA to engage in discussions with the JFRA in hopes of reaching an agreement. While games over the weekend were canceled, referees are set to resume duties on Monday, September 30. ISSA has committed to addressing the referees' concerns related to safety and security at matches and reviewing penalties for those who verbally or physically abuse match officials.

"We are disappointed that a conciliatory position could not have been arrived at that would allow today’s games to be played, but look forward to a quick and smooth resumption on Monday, September 30, 2024," ISSA said in a statement.

 As matches are set to resume, ISSA and the JFF will work together to ensure the safety and well-being of referees, players, and spectators as the schoolboy football season continues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West Indies Women missed the chance to build crucial momentum ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, falling to a 20-run defeat against India Women in a warm-up match in Dubai on Sunday.

 After winning the toss and opting to field, the West Indies women managed to restrict India to 141-8 from their 20 overs. India's total was anchored by Jemimah Rodrigues, who top-scored with a well-crafted 52 off 40 balls before being run out. Yastika Bhatia (24) and Smriti Mandhana (14) provided valuable support, but the Indian innings was largely contained by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, who produced a stellar bowling performance with figures of 4-17.

 In response, the West Indies Women got off to a poor start, losing early wickets, including that of captain Matthews, who was dismissed for a duck. The Caribbean side quickly slumped to 13-3, putting them on the back foot in their pursuit of 142.

 Chinelle Henry tried to rescue the innings with a fighting unbeaten 59, forming a crucial 57-run partnership with Shemaine Campbelle, who added 20 valuable runs. However, once Campbelle was dismissed, the West Indies struggled to maintain their momentum, losing wickets at regular intervals.

 Afy Fletcher’s quickfire 21 from 14 balls gave the West Indies a glimmer of hope late in the game, but they ultimately ran out of time, finishing at 121-8 from their 20 overs, falling 20 runs short of the target.

 India's bowlers put in a disciplined performance, with Pooja Vastrakar leading the attack, taking 3-20. Deepti Sharma was also instrumental in choking the West Indies' scoring, delivering an economical spell of 2-11 from her three overs.

 The loss leaves the West Indies Women with work to do as they prepare for their T20 World Cup campaign.

Trinidadian wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran has etched his name in T20 cricket history by surpassing Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan for the most runs scored in a calendar year in T20 cricket. Pooran achieved this milestone on Friday, September 27, during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024, where he scored 27 off 15 balls for Trinbago Knight Riders in a match against Barbados Royals at the Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad.

Pooran, 28, has accumulated 2,059 runs in T20 cricket in 2024, eclipsing Rizwan’s previous record of 2,036 runs set in 2021. While Rizwan reached his total in 45 innings at an average of 56.66 with one century and 18 fifties, Pooran has achieved his record-breaking tally with a faster strike rate of 160.63 compared to Rizwan’s 132.03. Pooran’s runs have come from across the globe, representing several franchises such as Durban Super Giants, Lucknow Super Giants, MI Emirates, MI New York, Northern Superchargers, Rangpur Riders, Trinbago Knight Riders, and the West Indies.

Despite his prolific run-scoring, Pooran is yet to notch a century in 2024, though he has come close with multiple scores in the 90s. He has, however, managed to rack up 14 fifties, underlining his consistency and ability to score quickly across formats. His overall average for the year stands above 42, solidifying his place as one of the most dangerous batsmen in T20 cricket today.

Pooran’s remarkable feat comes as no surprise, considering his explosive form in recent months. In the CPL 2024 alone, he has already amassed 312 runs from nine innings at an average of 39, with two fifties and an impressive strike rate of 175.28. His aggressive style of play and ability to take apart bowling attacks has been a standout feature, making him a key player in all his teams.

 This is the third time Pooran has crossed the 1,000-run mark in T20 cricket in a calendar year, having previously achieved the milestone in 2019 and 2023. His consistency in the shortest format of the game has solidified his reputation as one of the world’s top T20 batsmen.

 In comparison, Rizwan’s record-breaking year in 2021 saw him playing for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Multan Sultans, and Pakistan, while Pooran’s 2024 exploits have spanned various leagues and teams. The two players’ contrasting styles are evident, with Pooran’s superior strike rate emphasizing his power-hitting abilities.

 Pooran currently leads the T20 run charts for 2024 by a significant margin, with South Africa's Reeza Hendricks in second place with 1,555 runs from 47 innings, followed by Pakistan’s Babar Azam with 1,480 runs from 35 innings, and Australian opener Travis Head with 1,442 runs from 39 innings.

 Pooran’s record-breaking achievement was capped off with Trinbago Knight Riders securing a 30-run victory over Barbados Royals, further cementing his role as one of the most influential players in the ongoing CPL season. As the year progresses, Pooran will undoubtedly look to build on his remarkable form and add more milestones to his already stellar T20 career.

Jamaican referees are set to return to duty on Monday, September 30, following a weekend strike that caused the cancellation of all matches in the DaCosta Cup and Manning Cup competitions. The referees had taken strike action in response to concerns over safety and security after a series of troubling incidents involving match officials.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA) expressed disappointment that an agreement could not be reached in time to allow the weekend’s games to proceed. However, the organization is optimistic about a swift resolution and resumption of matches.

“We are disappointed that a conciliatory position could not have been arrived at, that would allow today’s games to be played, but look forward to a quick and smooth resumption on Monday, September 30, 2024,” ISSA said.

The strike was prompted by two recent incidents in the DaCosta Cup. In one incident, during a match between Dinthill Technical and McGrath High last Saturday, referee officials were confronted by Dinthill players Maalick Whyte, Shamair Hutchinson, and Tyrese Gowe after the match. This confrontation escalated, with one of the players allegedly physically assaulting the referee.

As a result, ISSA’s disciplinary committee took swift action. On Thursday, it announced that Whyte and Hutchinson would be banned from participating in any ISSA-run competitions for one year, effective September 26, 2024, while Gowe was handed a three-match suspension. Additionally, Dinthill Technical was placed on a three-year probation and faces the threat of suspension if its players violate the disciplinary code during the probationary period.

The second incident occurred during a Zone A DaCosta Cup game between Maldon High and Cornwall College on September 14, when assistant referee Richard Ball was allegedly struck in the chest by a missile thrown from a group of spectators.

The Jamaica Football Referees Association (JFRA) raised concerns over the general safety and security of match officials and called for stricter penalties for those who verbally or physically assault referees. ISSA has since committed to reviewing its operations and addressing these concerns.

“The concerns raised by the JFRA are related to the general safety and security of match officials at our games as well as the stipulated penalties for persons who verbally or physically abuse match officials,” ISSA noted. “ISSA has committed to reviewing its general operations, and in particular, the specific areas of concerns raised, with the intention of ensuring that we continue to provide a safe and wholesome environment for all persons participating in our various competitions.”

With referees set to return, ISSA will continue working to ensure that referees, players, and spectators are all protected moving forward, as the competitions resume.

Lionel Messi scored but Inter Miami failed to puncture Charlotte FC's resolve as they were held to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.

Messi netted with a brilliant, low strike from the edge of the area to drag Miami level in the 67th minute at Chase Stadium.

His equaliser came 10 minutes after Karol Swiderski had diverted in Brandt Bronico's effort to give Dean Smith's Charlotte an unlikely lead.

Miami thought they had a penalty just after Messi's equaliser, but after consulting with the VAR, referee Ramy Touchan amended his decision to award a spot-kick for a foul on Diego Gomez, with that call also sparing Adilson Malanda from receiving a second yellow card.

Charlotte substitute Patrick Agyemang had a goal disallowed for offside as the frantic pace continued, though the best opportunity for a winner fell to Miami star Luis Suarez, only for the former Barcelona and Liverpool forward to slice over from point-blank range.

The draw leaves Miami needing to win all three of their remaining regular-season matches to break the single-season MLS points record of 73, which was set by the New England Revolution in 2021. Charlotte, meanwhile, are not sure of their place in the playoffs just yet.

Data Debrief: Miami's Messi problem?

Messi scored, had 10 shots, got five on target, had 15 touches in Charlotte's box, and created two chances for his team-mates, yet Miami could still not get over the line.

The issue for Gerardo Martino is, it is becoming a trend when the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner plays - and he will always play when he is fit, of course.

It can hardly be considered Messi's fault, but Miami have now won only one of the last six matches he has featured in dating back to late May (D3 L1). In the 13 matches Messi has missed in all competitions in that time, Miami have posted a record of W10 D0 L3, and it is a worrying drop-off heading into the playoffs.

The top two sides in this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) duked it out in Providence, with the reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors winning by a sizeable 35 run margin against their nearest rivals at the top of the table, Saint Lucia Kings.

Warriors captain Imran Tahir won the toss and elected to bat on home turf in Guyana. The daytime match wicket was thought to be a tricky one for free scoring, but the Warriors put on a confident display, breaching the 200 mark to finish on 207/7 from their 20 overs.

Shai Hope, with 56 off 31 balls, including five sixes and two fours, and Player of the Match Shimron Hetmyer, who topscored with a 30-ball 58 that had nine fours and a solitary maximum, led the way for the Warriors.

Faf du Plessis, with an unbeaten 92 off 59 balls batted through the entire inning, and at various stages he looked to be suffering from cramps as the Kings failed to chase down the target.

It was a true captain’s knock from the South African, who smashed seven fours and four sixes in over an hour and a half at the crease. Sadly for him, no other King's batsman could stick around long enough to give a better fight.

Only Alzarri Joseph (25* off 21 balls) allowed du Plessis to have some solidity at the other end and he set about hauling his side to a more respectable total and making sure that their net run rate was not too badly damaged. Finishing on 172/7 and batting out all of their overs in the end, the 35 run loss marked an achievement of sorts for the Kings after it earlier looked like they would go down by a considerable amount more.

With the win, the Warriors reclaimed the top sport in the standings on 14 points with a game in hand. They will take on Trinbago Knight Riders on Sunday in the final preliminary round fixture to determine the final placings heading into the playoff showdowns still to come.

With the inaugural Carifta Gymnastics Championships fast approaching, Barbados head coach Alison Jackson expressed cautious optimism about her team’s chances of topping rivals at the event, which will be held at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Jamaica.

Jackson, a long-time coach of Flip Gym, shared her views shortly after a 15-member team was named to represent the Barbados Gymnastics Association (BAGA) at the November 29-30 event.

She believes that despite Barbados being represented internationally at various levels over the years, the island is still yet to reach its full potential, and that scope for growth is again evident where team selection is concerned.

"Well, I have to say that we are at a disadvantage in terms of athlete selection. I’m the only one that offers a competitive programme at the moment, so all of the gymnasts have been selected from my gym through my staff. We sat and discussed and looked at results for the season to make our recommendations to the association about who we think our top athletes are going to be at each level,” Jackson said.

“Trinidad is ahead of us in terms of how long they’ve had organised gymnastics classes going. So Trinidad alone has 17 clubs to choose from. So our group is very small, we only have 15 girls going, but we’ve picked the best of our 15 girls. So I expect to definitely be coming back with some medals for Barbados,” she added.

The Carifta Gymnastics Championships, which has been under consideration for years now, will now come to fruition, with teams from Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, The Bahamas, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands set to take part.

“It’s finally happening. Jamaica is hosting the first one, and we are going to be having most of the countries in our region follow the USA’s developmental programme, which is level-based,” Jackson, a former vice president of BAGA, shared.

“So there’s 10 levels, so they’re going to have that, as well as elite level gymnastics, which is the International Gymnastics Federation or FIG level gymnastics. So there’ll be two streams, which is great because not all of the islands have elite level gymnasts as yet. So we’ll give all the kids who are eligible an opportunity to compete and represent their country at the Carifta Games at whatever level they’re at,” she explained.

That said, Jackson expressed hope that the advent of a regional competition for gymnastics will show people that Caribbean kids have other possible pathways to excel on the international stage.

“We’re hoping that it will broaden everybody’s horizons and bring more awareness to gymnastics generally within our own island and across the Caribbean. I’ve been coaching kids in Barbados for years. I’ve taken kids to the USA; I’ve taken them to training camps with the US national team coaches. I mean, we’ve done lots of stuff, but everyone’s just thinking this is only starting now. But it’s been going on for a long time, so it’s just getting it out there and getting more recognition,” Jackson noted.

Barbados team: Jazara Lavine, Ciara Freeman, Za’Nyah Bostic-White, Daniella Small, Juliette Sonny, Mariah Gill, Cyrina Walcott-Lloyd, Oyinda Buluro, Amber Haynes, Dominique Thompson, Khaleesi Marshall, Sya Franklyn, Freya-Rose Smith, Thaliyah Dowrich, Mishka Mapp.

The 2016 ICC Women's T20 World Cup win gets brought up in the group from time to time, mainly because it feels like it was so long ago. The older players often talk about the emotions surrounding that victory—not just what it meant for us but also for the younger girls watching as they were coming up through the system. As a team now, we're hoping to recreate that success, knowing how much of an impact it will have—not just on us but on cricket in the Caribbean, where the sport holds such huge significance.

We can see first-hand what we, as the older girls in the group, have done for the younger girls coming in now, and we would just love to be able to inspire another generation of girls coming up.

Looking at the present, we’re coming to a World Cup, and we want to win, who doesn’t? I think a World Cup is one of those tournaments, especially T20 World Cups, where, if you have some good performances on a big day, it can get you through the stages.

This is, if not our best, definitely one of our best squads that we have had at a T20 World Cup. We have seen a lot of our senior players really improve, like Shemaine Campbelle who has been so much more consistent lately. And players like Aaliyah Alleyne, who has stepped up and improved her game and has played more important roles in matches.

The thing that has been really good, is the camaraderie in the group, it feels like a massive, safe space and somewhere where everyone feels super comfortable. Even the young ones who have come into the group have been able to settle and gel really well with the older ones, and there is tremendous mutual respect, which is really good for us.

Spin tends to dominate World Cups, no matter where they're played. In women's cricket, especially, spinners frequently top the charts and rankings, so I believe spin will play a significant role. Fortunately, for us, we have got quite a few spinners in our arsenal, Karishma Ramharack, Stafanie Taylor, Afy Fletcher, Qiana Joseph, young Zaida James, and me.

We strongly believe that spin will play a major role, and the team has been selected with that in mind. Hopefully, as a spin unit, we can go out there and make a significant impact with the ball.

It’s hard to believe I’ve just reached 10 years in international cricket—it feels like the time has flown by, and in many ways, it still feels like I’m just starting out. I remember making my debut at Arnos Vale Stadium in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, walking onto the field, nervous and trembling, fulfilling a lifelong dream. Looking back now, 10 years have passed, and I’m now the captain of the West Indies—so much has changed since that day.

One area I’ve struggled with early on is maintaining consistency, but I have been able to improve vastly over the last couple of years. I feel like if I can keep up with the consistency I have now and the performances I have now, I can hopefully finish this game as one of the best. I think I still have a long way to go, so I am just taking it one step at a time and trying to perform well every time I go out on the park, and whatever comes from it, will come from it.

As the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) heads towards its final week of competition it was another disappointing night for Barbados Royals who suffered their fourth defeat in a row at the hands of fellow title hopefuls Trinbago Knight Riders.

The Knight Riders comfortable 30-run victory sees them leapfrog the Royals into third position in the table on 12 points with a game in hand. The Royals finish fourth in the final qualifying spot despite being the team to beat at the start of the competition.

Royals captain Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to field first at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and after Theekshana bowled Jason Roy for a duck and Jason Holder bagged Shaqkere Parris caught behind by Quinton de Kock for just five the Royals were well placed. Nicholas Pooran hit 27 off 15 balls before offering another catch to de Kock off Naveen-ul-Haq to leave the Knight Riders stuttering on 35/3 off four overs.

The TKR engine room came to their rescue, a score of 175/7 chalked up courtesy of calm heads and clinical hitting as Kieron Pollard (42 off 27) Andre Russell (31 off 12) and Keacy Carty (32 off 34) held the innings together and got the home side to a competitive score.

It proved 30 runs to many for the Royals. Dangerman de Kock was one of three wickets snared early by the impressive Akeal Hosein who finished with 3/15 from his set of four overs which took the sting out of the Royals batting card and earned the darting spinner the Player of the Match.

Alick Athanze kept the Royals in with a sniff with a well made 44 off 33 balls but once he had departed to the English combo of bowler Chris Jordan and catcher Jason Roy, captain Powell fell for 18 and Jason Holder for just 4 the target remained out of reach as wickets fell and the scoreboard pressure told.

David Miller tried in vain to get the Royals close with some late order boundary hitting but his 30 off 15 balls wasn’t enough to take the game down to the wire.

 

The Jamaica Squash Association has been seeing increased action on the courts at the Jamaica Liguanea Club in New Kingston and the Senior Common Room (SNR) at the University of the West Indies campus in Papine with varying activities to attract new players and to provide continuing competition for the members. 

First there was the Women’s Squash Week which ran from September 16 to 22 which focused on attracting female players to the sport. There were several females who heeded the call to be introduced to the sport under the guidance of Karen Anderson who is a former national player, long time national coach and current president of Jamaica Squash. 

The training sessions were conducted at the SNR while the final session which included actual games which were scored was held last Saturday at the Liguanea Club. That session was dubbed Ladies Lyme and Round Robin Games. Anderson was pleased with the response to the week. 

The second set of activities took place this week at the Liguanea Club with ongoing competitions and will culminate on Friday night with the finals of the Liguanea Club Open Handicap competition. That will see three finals starting with Nabeel Jawad and Leigh Dwyer, then Jemel Sterling and Handel Emery and ending with Joey Levy and Mario O’Connor. 

The open handicap tournament is opened to all the members of the club and has seen a high level of participation among the membership of Jamaica Squash.

Toronto FC head coach John Herdman has said his side must rediscover their clinical edge upon their MLS return after their Canadian Championship final defeat in midweek.

The Reds were beaten by the Vancouver Whitecaps on penalties after a goalless encounter, with goalkeeper Isaac Boehmer proving to be the hero, making seven saves on the night.

But Herdman was left ruing those missed opportunities as the Whitecaps claimed their third-straight title, insisting his players must respond against the Chicago Fire this weekend.

“We are just not clinical at the moment,” Herdman said. “It’s been a couple games where we’ve been right there knocking on the door but just haven’t been able to find that killer moment or we found a keeper that’s standing on his head.

“That’s the story of TFC at the moment. We’re in the playoff hunt.

“As I said in the dressing room, all I asked is the team showed up, and they did. They have to show up again on Saturday. That’s their next task.”

Chicago, meanwhile, were condemned to back-to-back defeats in the MLS, going down 2-0 to CF Montreal in their last encounter at the Stade Saputo.

That defeat, the Fire’s 16th of the season, leaves them 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, ending their hopes of reaching the playoffs this year.

But with two of their remaining three regular-season fixtures at the SeatGeek Stadium, head coach Frank Klopas has asked his players to give supporters something to cheer after a disappointing campaign.

“We need to finish strong. We need to fight and compete all the way to the end. As long as we have games in front of us, we are professionals and need to play,” Klopas said.

“We need to do our job. We have two home games and regardless of what happens, it’s important, and I have stressed it to the team to finish strongly at home.

“I know it has not been a season with a lot of great moments, but we need to do whatever we can to finish on a positive note and leave a good picture, especially at home.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Chicago Fire –Brian Gutierrez

In the absence of top scorer Hugo Cuypers, Gutierrez will be the man tasked with providing the Fire with an attacking spark at the SeatGeek Stadium.

The American notched an assist in their 4-1 win over Toronto earlier in the season, winning three of his five matches against this weekend’s opponents (D1 L1).

Toronto FC – Jonathan Osorio

Osorio has scored six goals against the Fire, his most against any MLS opponent.

However, he hasn’t scored against the Fire since 2019, failing to find the back of the net in his last five appearances against Chicago.

MATCH PREDICTION: CHICAGO FIRE WIN

The Fire have won three of their last four matches against Toronto, including the last two in a row. Prior to the last four meetings, Toronto were unbeaten in 14 straight matches against Chicago (W11 D3).

However, Herdman’s side have lost seven of their last nine matches in all competitions (D1 L1), including the last two in a row. This is the sixth different losing streak of at least two matches for the Fire this season.

Toronto’s 2-0 loss at the Colorado Rapids last Saturday was their 45th regular season road loss since the start of the 2021 season, four more than any other MLS team in that time (Chicago - 41).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Chicago Fire – 48%

Draw – 26%

Toronto FC – 26%

Craig Allison and Katherine Wynter emerged as winners of the Division A Men’s and Women’s Singles Badminton titles, respectively, at week two of the Jamaica Badminton Academy (JBA) Shuttle Showdown at the YMCA in Kingston from September 21-22.

Allison secured the Men’s title with a 2-0 (21-18, 21-17) win over Joel Angus while on the Women’s side, Wynter dominated Alexandra Beckford 2-0 (21-9, 21-12).

The Men’s Singles crown in Division B was taken by Odray Sealy who came from a set down to defeat Jamie Lee Vernon in three sets (18-21, 21-14, 21-12).

Brianna Burke defeated Sue-Ann Ogle in straight sets (21-16, 21-18) to win the Women’s Singles Division C title.

Brianna Burke (left) won titles in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

In Doubles, Anthony McNee and Kemar Valentine defeated Kenneth Anglin and beaten singles finalist Joel Angus 21-12, 21-18 to take the Men’s Division A title while singles champion Katherine Wynter combined with Stefani Brown to add the doubles crown with a 21-14, 23-21 win over Alexandra Beckford and Breanna Bisnott.

Stephen Lue Yen and Aaliyah Walker took the Division A Mixed Doubles crown with a 19-21, 26-24, 23-21 win over Kenneth Anglin and Stefani Brown.

In Division C, Jorie McBean and Samuel Smith took the Men’s Doubles title with a 21-18, 21-11 win over Jhevado Ross and Matheus Smith.

Brianna Burke added to her singles title with doubles success alongside Zoelle Jamel as they defeated Dadrian Lewis and Davina Scott 21-19, 19-21, 21-10.

Burke added her third title of the weekend in Mixed Doubles when she combined with Chavaughn Schleifer to defeat Joseph Morrison and Zoelle Jamel 21-17, 21-18.

The age-group were as follows: U9 Boys Singles- Zamani Allen, U9 Girls Singles- Jillian Yap, U11 Boys Singles- Justin Dillon, U11 Girls Singles- Brea Grant, U13 Boys Singles- Ethan Grant, U13 Girls Singles- Ella Bella Palmer, U13 Mixed Doubles- Ethan Grant and Savannah Watson, Boys U15 Singles- Amir McBean, Girls U15 Singles- Leeya Dileep, U15 Mixed Doubles- Matheus Smith and Sue-Ann Ogle, U15 Boys Doubles-Amir McBean and Matheus Smith.

 

 

 

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