Dominican Republic’s Cibao FC produced a gritty performance to better Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain in a come-from-behind 3-2 win that secured their spot in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup semi-finals.

A brace from Rivaldo Correa (75th and 89th) and the other from Jean Lopez (63rd) handed Cibao FC the crucial win after Shackiel Smek Henry (38th) and Jameel Neptune (40th) put AC Port of Spain in front at Hasely Crawford Stadium.

Meanwhile, Joseph Willinx (45th and 69th) got a brace for Ouanaminthe and Quinton Griffith (20th) and Malcolm Stewart (89th) scored for Grenades FC as both teams played out a 2-2 stalemate in Dominican Republic also on Tuesday.

The win propelled Cibao to seven points, same as their compatriots Moca FC, who are also through to the semi-finals, while Antigua’s Grenades FC (two points), AC Port of Spain (two points), and Haiti’s Ouanaminthe (two points) complete Group B.

It was an aggressive start by AC Port of Spain, who wasted little time to make their intentions known and eventually took the lead in the 38th when Henry headed home from Neptune’s weighted cross to take his tournament tally to three goals.

Neptune added his name to the score sheet two minutes later with an acrobatic finish from deep inside the 18-yard box to put AC Port of Spain 2-0 up at the break.

However, the second half belonged to Cibao as Herold Charles entered the contest in the 53rd and injected tempo into their attack to inspire the comeback. His first served up a weighted cross for Lopez to lash home in the 63rd.

Charles provided another weighted cross in the 75th, this time for Correa to finish and pull Cibao level.

Correa and Charles also connected on the winning goal as the former got on the end of a decent through pass and slotted home on the stroke of full time.

With AC Port of Spain and the others now out of contention, Cibao’s and Moca’s final group fixtures against Ouanaminthe and Grenades, respectively, will be of academic interest on October 1.

Women’s cricket has enjoyed substantial growth in the last 15 years, and it is no coincidence that this rise has come alongside the emergence of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

While Australia may currently be the women’s game’s pre-eminent force, there is a feeling of the sport becoming more open, with nations outside of the traditional powers starting to emerge.

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup itself has grown, a fact made clear in that just eight teams contested the first competition in England in 2009. The tournament was held simultaneously with the men’s competition, and the form of the hosts captivated a nation.

This culminated in over 12,000 attending the final at Lord's, where Charlotte Edwards’ side defeated New Zealand by six wickets to become the inaugural champions. The triumph pushed England women into the spotlight, with the same being said of Australia when they claimed the title in 2010 and how they have run with it since.

Their margin of victory over New Zealand at the Kensington Oval might have been slim (three runs), but it kicked off an era of dominance that continues to this day. Australian players such as Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning became prized commodities off the back of the exploits at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with teams all over the world bidding for their services.

Lanning was the top run scorer in the 2014 tournament in Bangladesh, the first in which 10 teams took part, as her country claimed their third consecutive title.

There was a new name on the trophy, however, when the competition moved to India in 2016 as the West Indies crowned their emergence as a leading nation by dethroning the Australians at Eden Gardens.

It was the first women’s final to take place on the same day as the men's, and it set the tone, with the Windies’ men going on to memorably defeat England, making the men and women from the Caribbean double world champions.

The holders then hosted in 2018 as Australia reclaimed the trophy that year, and they have not relinquished it since. Indeed, it was when they hosted in 2020 that the competition truly was taken to new heights. This was capped by the extraordinary attendance of 86,174 at the MCG—a record for a women’s cricket match—that witnessed Australia’s victory over first-time finalists, India.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 turned out to be the largest global sporting event to take place for some time, and it sticks in the memory for all the right reasons.

Its increased profile that year also brought rewards of the prize money for the winners of US$1 million, five times more than what was awarded in 2018.

That is a figure that has continued to skyrocket, with the winners of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United Arab Emirates set to take home US$2.34 million.

Nine other countries will be taking on one of the toughest tasks in the sport, dethroning Australia, when the action gets under way on October 3.

With household names among the challengers, such as Nat Sciver-Brunt (England), Smriti Mandhana (India), and Marizanne Kapp (South Africa), set to lead the challenge for their respective nations, we are set for the most explosive competition yet.

The Honourable Ian Forbes has been appointed Chairman of the Institute of Sports (INSPORTS), as announced by the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport, the Honourable Olivia Grange. Forbes will lead a newly constituted board of directors, comprised of individuals with a diverse range of expertise, tasked with guiding the development and expansion of sports in Jamaica over the next two years.

Forbes, widely regarded for his contributions to Jamaican sports, will be supported by a dedicated team of professionals, including Deputy Chairman Howard Chambers and experienced figures such as Ronald Anderson, Dr. Michelle Holt, and Alan Beckford. Their collective experience spans a broad spectrum of disciplines, from sports management to medical expertise, positioning INSPORTS for a strong push in grassroots and community sports development.

 Under Forbes’ leadership, the board will focus on advancing programs aimed at fostering athletic talent, with an emphasis on inclusivity across Jamaica. This vision is supported by key members such as Glen Nelson, Emile Spence, and Shirley McLean Brown, who bring their own unique strengths to the team. The board also benefits from the administrative expertise of Julian Patrick and the strategic insights of Florette Blackwood and Suzzette Ison, both of whom have a long-standing history of contributing to Jamaica’s sports landscape.

 INSPORTS remains a critical body in Jamaica’s sporting ecosystem, particularly in its role of supporting youth sports and less mainstream disciplines. Forbes and his team are expected to work closely with athletes, coaches, and local communities to create opportunities that will further solidify Jamaica’s presence on the global sporting stage.

 Minister Grange also used the occasion to announce additions to the Sports Development Foundation (SDF), with Florette Blackwood, Leslie Harrow, and Newton Amos being added to its board. The SDF, led by Chairman Leslie Campbell, continues to play a pivotal role in funding national sports programs and developing sporting infrastructure across Jamaica.

 With Forbes at the helm of INSPORTS and new members adding their strengths to the SDF, Jamaica’s sport sector is poised for continued growth. Grange concluded, “Both the Institute of Sports and the Sports Development Foundation are key to ensuring Jamaica remains a dominant force in global sports. With this leadership in place, we are confident that we are on the right path to achieving our goals.”

St Lucia’s double Olympic medallist Julien Alfred returned home to a rapturous welcome at the Hewanorra International Airport on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, other government members, and St. Lucia Olympic Committee personnel were among the official welcome party.

An emotional Alfred was at a loss for words.

“I don’t want to get emotional, but today I really want to give thanks,” Alfred said.

The 23-year-old, who copped gold and silver in the 100m and 200m at the Paris Games, expressed gratitude to family, friends, her village, the government, her coach Edrick Floréal, and Cuthbert ‘Twatiné’ Modeste for their unwavering support along the way.

“Even when I gave up, he [Modeste] came back to look for me in Ciceron. So many people have guided me and helped me to get to this point, and I really just want to say thank you to all of you, even those I haven’t mentioned. I just want to say thank you,” she shared.

“I have dreamt of this day for such a long time—just being an inspiration to the youth of St Lucia, wanting to give back and wanting to inspire them so we can have many more Levern Spencers and many more Daren Sammys and many more like myself,” Alfred added.

Prior to her Olympic Games exploits, Alfred also copped the World Indoor 60m title as she consistently etched her name in the annals of St Lucia’s and the world’s sporting history.

While many now share in her success, Alfred highlighted that the journey was by no means smooth sailing.

“It was truly a rocky road. Many days I wanted to just give up, throw in the towel, and just say, ‘I’m done’. But my village, those persons who were around me, I just want to say thank you for just everything you have done for me. I really appreciate it,” Alfred noted.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre pointed out that Alfred’s athletic prowess was a reminder that the potential for excellence is very much alive in the island with a population of just over 179,000.

“Julien’s recent achievements at the Olympic Games transcend sports. They have been a source of inspiration to all St. Lucians, especially our youth,” Pierre noted.

Meanwhile, Youth Development and Sports Minister Kenson Casimir likened Alfred’s success to a blessing from God, as St. Lucia is the only nation named after a woman.

“And it is a woman that has taken us to the pinnacle of the entire globe. We are blessed because we have the perfect representative of a St. Lucian taking us to that level. Somebody who is kind. Somebody who loves people, somebody who is generous and humble. That person is Julien Alfred,” Casimir declared.

Saint Lucia Kings laid down an imposing marker to the other three sides to make the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoffs as they racked up 218 runs off their twenty overs and reduced the Trinbago Knight Riders to 138/9 to win by 80 runs and remain top of the latest standings.

It could have been a heavier defeat than it was for the Knight Riders as Kings Captain Faf Du Plessis and his opening partner Johnson Charles smashed the ball to all parts in Tarouba. A 145 run opening partnership saw the ball flying to the boundary multiple times, which perhaps also explained why the first innings took over two hours to complete.

The Knight Riders were made to do plenty of leather chasing and had to wait until the thirteenth over before they could ‘celebrate’ a wicket – Charles departing for a magnificent 89 – caught by a juggling Chris Jordan on the long on boundary off a Jayden Seales slower ball.

Du Plessis made a half century of his own and after he was out – caught on the leg side fence off the impressive Kieron Pollard – Tim Seifert hit 30 off 17 balls to get the Kings over 200. The Kings scoring rate did slow up towards the end, with just 45 runs coming off the last five overs.

Pollard was the pick of the Knight Riders bowlers and came to fore admirably in the absence of Sunil Narine, 4/38 in the circumstances constituted excellent figures and meant his side had a chance of chasing down a still sizeable target.

The Knight Riders never really got close. Losing regular wickets in the first half of their innings saw them reduced to 56/6 as Noor Ahmed’s left arm wrist spin picked up the engine room of Tim David, Akeal Hossein and Andre Russell without any damage incurred.

Jason Roy stayed resolute and started to chip away at the total but when he was brilliantly caught and bowled by Shadrack Descarte in the 14th over and Chris Jordan was removed by David Wiese in the following over the game had gone out of sight for the Knight Riders.

“Unleash Your Power: Where Mental Strength Meets Physical Excellence,” is the theme of the third staging of the Mayberry, JOA Jamaica Bodybuilding and Fitness Association (JABBFA) National Bodybuilding Championships.

This year’s event is set for Saturday, September 28 at the AC Hotel in Kingston.

“We are excited at JABBFA to showcase Jamaica’s premier bodybuilding event where the country’s top athletes will compete for the prestigious titles of Mr. and Ms. Jamaica,” said Vice President of JABBFA, Kirk Frankson at the launch of the event held at the Jamaica Olympic Association on Tuesday morning.

“This competition marks a pivotal moment in our season of bodybuilding as we continue to celebrate not only physical excellence but also the discipline, commitment and mental strength that our sport cultivates. It is a platform where our athletes don’t just showcase their physical prowess, but also their mental resilience and dedication to drive them to become the best version of themselves,” he added.

Mayberry Investments Limited will serve as main sponsors for the championships for the third year in a row.

“Today marks a significant moment for bodybuilding and fitness Jamaica as we kick off another year of showcasing the incredible talent, dedication and discipline of our athletes,” said Stephanie Harrison, VP-Marketing at Mayberry Investments Limited.

“We are very happy and elated to have accommodated this third staging and we believe in the potential of our athletes and it’s a testament to the growing importance of fitness and wellness in Jamaica,” she added.

The competition will feature 56 athletes competing in a diverse range of categories: Men’s Physique, Bodybuilding, Bikini Fitness, Body Fitness and Women’s Physique.

The Men’s Physique category will be broken down into three smaller categories: Short, Tall and Muscular while the Bodybuilding category will be broken down into two: Open and Classic.

Bikini Fitness, similar to Men’s Physique, will see three sub-categories: Short, Tall and Wellness.

There are 23 competitors registered for the Men’s Physique category with Bodybuilding, Bikini Fitness, Body Fitness and Women’s Physique following with 15, 10, 4 and 4, respectively.

“Without the athletes, none of this would’ve been possible. With their hard work and dedication, going through the diet, it’s amazing,” said JABBFA President Audrey Allwood.

A large number of Gyms around the island will be represented on Saturday including the likes of Fit Farm Fitness, Island Body Fitness, Myers Fitness Center, Work That body Gym and recent additions to the fitness landscape like Shaddai Fitness Factory among many others.

“We could not have done this without the gym because, of course, the gyms make the bodies,” Allwood said.

Allwood also expressed gratitude to Mayberry for their contributions over the last three years, referring to that period as the association’s “best ever.”

As far as prizes go, for all competitive categories with more than three participants, the top three athletes will be awarded trophies and Mayberry tokens and sponsored gift baskets.

Category winners will also receive a cash prize of JA$20,000, while the overall champions will be rewarded with JA$50,000.

Other sponsors for this year’s edition include Caribbean Producers Jamaica, Lasco Financial Services, Lasco Distributors, Ayrtons Distributors, Gustazos Jamaica, VitaMalt, Nature Valley, Powerade, Vigorton 2 Iron and Vitamin Tonic, Cheffin’z with Jolly, Fitness Junkies, Express Fitness Jamaica and PUSH.

Reggae Girlz Head coach Hubert Busby says Concacaf’s move to expand the women’s football calendar represents a significant step forward for the development of the sport in the region, as the revised schedule will provide increased opportunities for competition, allowing national teams to play more matches throughout the year.

In an effort to build on the successful delivery of the inaugural Women’s Gold Cup, as well as the recently added Women’s Club Competition, which is currently ongoing, Concacaf is set to introduce additional competitions, some of which will serve as qualifiers for major tournaments between 2025 and 2029.

Tournaments will include a new qualifying tournament in 2025 that will serve as the preliminary round of the 2026 Concacaf Women’s Championship, which will serve as the qualification path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. There will also be the introduction of an inaugural Concacaf Women’s Nations League in 2028 and a second edition of the Women’s Gold Cup.

Busby, who continues to push for greater international success with his Reggae Girlz, believes the additional fixtures will be crucial in improving the competitiveness and overall quality of not only his team but that of other Caribbean nations ahead of future tournaments, including the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup and the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

“This expanded calendar is a game changer. In order to improve, our players need regular, high-level competition, and this initiative by Concacaf allows us to play more frequently. It also provides an opportunity for us to assess the development of the team in a tournament situation on an ongoing basis,” Busby said.

“So kudos to Concacaf, they have done a good job of understanding the landscape and ever-changing times and being able to provide a platform for countries that sometimes can’t afford to schedule games in the windows to play. Also, providing a match calendar throughout the year is very important to kind of elevate arguably one of the best confederations in the world based on results, so it is great that we can look at this calendar and plan accordingly,” he told SportsMax.Tv.

The expanded calendar includes more consistent qualification pathways for major tournaments, with plans for more international friendlies and regional competitions. Busby sees this as an advantage, particularly for the Reggae Girlz, who have made history by qualifying for back-to-back FIFA Women’s World Cups in 2019 and 2023 and are now aiming for even greater achievements.

“We are no longer just participating—we’re competing on the world stage. So it is good to play more often in order to maintain and build on that momentum. Our players will benefit from being on the field more often, and that can only bode well for us going forward. Ultimately, this is about growth—not just for the Reggae Girlz, but for women’s football across the region,” Busby explained.

The upcoming friendlies against European and African powerhouses France and South Africa will ensure Busby’s Reggae Girlz end 2024 on a high heading into that busy calendar next year.

Busby reiterated that these games—scheduled for October 25 in France and November 29 and December 2 in Jamaica—will offer a valuable test for his squad and give younger players more chances to develop in high-pressure environments.

“The more we play, the better we become, and as I said before, these games represent a commitment of all and sundry to that growth. We have a very deep pool and we will have a good set of players to choose from,” he noted.

Jamaica’s Mount Pleasant FA and Trinidad and Tobago’s AC Port of Spain and Police FC are among teams that will be hoping to position themselves for a semi-final berth as the Concacaf Caribbean Cup continues on Tuesday.

Two Group B encounters will get the week’s action under way, with Haiti’s Ouanaminthe set to host Antigua’s Grenades in the Dominican Republic, while AC Port of Spain welcomes the other Dominican Republic outfit, Cibao FC.

Meanwhile, the Group A contests between another Haitian club Real Hope and Arnett Gardens are set for Wednesday, with Police FC and Mount Pleasant set to rub shoulders on Thursday.

Ouanaminthe FC vs. Grenades FC

With both teams having only secured a point from their first two games, this contest represents an opportunity for either to move closer to the leaders, provided they execute efficiently to snare all three points.

Grenades FC and Ouanaminthe FC currently sit fourth and fifth with a point each, as Dominican Republic’s Moca FC comfortably occupies pole position on seven points ahead of Cibao (four points) and Port of Spain (two points).

Fredelin Philistin, who scored in Ouanaminthe’s 1-3 loss to Moca last Wednesday, will be key to their chances of securing their first win on this occasion.

The same is true about Sean Tomlinson, who notched a late equaliser for Grenades FC against Port of Spain on last.

Anything but a win for either team will bury their chances of progressing any further in the tournament.

AC Port of Spain vs. Cibao FC

With two points from three games, AC Port of Spain will enter this, their final group stage fixture against Cibao FC, also knowing that anything but a win will see them falling short of the semi-final.

Still, a win at Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva, doesn’t necessarily guarantee AC Port of Spain a semi-final spot, but it would provisionally push them into second above Cibao. From there, the Twin Island Republic’s representatives would then have to hope a result between Ouanaminthe and Cibao, on October 1 falls in their favour.

Shackiel Smek and John Paul Rochford will be the point men for AC Port of Spain.

Meanwhile, for Cibao FC, a win or a draw would not only extend their unbeaten run but also ensure they remain in a favourable position for a semi-final appearance.

Jean Lopez and Eddipo Rodriguez are expected to cause trouble for AC Port of Spain’s backline.

Real Hope FA vs. Arnett Gardens FC

Group A also remains in the balance, as Cavalier remain tops on six points ahead of Real Hope FA and Police FC on four points each. Mount Pleasant is also in striking distance on three points, while Arnett Gardens is without a point, but can turn their chances around with a win at the National Stadium on Wednesday.

Real Hope will enter the contest with their tails high having clipped Cavalier 2-1 last week, and knowing that another win would propel them to the top of the standing with one game still to come against Mount Pleasant on October 3.

The Haitian club will look to Rikanel Chery and Steeve Mondestin to lead their charge.

Despite their current situation, Arnett Gardens, the reigning Caribbean Shield champions, are no pushovers and head coach Xavier Gilbert will be hoping they can stamp their class in this contest to gradually revive their chances of progressing further.

Shai Smith, Warner Brown and others will be hoping to get some goals under their belts should goal-difference come into play, as the game will serve as Real Hope’s home fixture.

Miscellaneous Police FC vs. Mount Pleasant FA

Police FC will welcome the fact that their final group stage fixture will be at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva on Thursday. However, the fact that they will be up against a highly-motivated Mount Pleasant team doesn’t allow much room for comfort.

But having edged one Jamaican club in Arnett Gardens 2-1 last week, Police will be backing their quality to down another, which would keep them in contention for a semi-final berth while slightly a draw or a loss could spell trouble for their chances.

Ezekiel Kesar will be their point man in attack.

A win for Mount Pleasant would also keep them in the running for a semi-final berth with a game in hand, but unlike their previous games, they will need to be at their best and capitalise on their chances to stay alive.

Jashaun Anglin and Kimoni Bailey are just two players to look out for in a deep squad that possesses immense quality.

Jamaica’s Jacqueline Williams is among 10 umpires and three match referees set to officiate in the ninth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup scheduled for October 3-20.

Though being played in the United Arab Emirates, Bangladesh will still serve as host of the tournament, which will see 23 matches contested over 18 days in Dubai and Sharjah to crown a 2024 champion.

Along with Williams, who will be standing in a fourth ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, the experienced group of umpires comprises seasoned officials, including Claire Polosak, who will be umpiring in her fifth, while Kim Cotton is also set to make a fourth Women’s T20 World Cup appearance.

Both Williams and Cotton took charge of the final in Cape Town between hosts South Africa and eventual champions Australia last February.

Sue Redfern, who was the TV umpire for that final, is also back for her fourth appearance in the tournament. At the other end of the spectrum, Sarah Dambanevana of Zimbabwe, will make her debut appearance.

The match referees’ team features GS Lakshmi, who refereed her first T20I back in 2012 and oversaw the final in 2023. She is joined by Shandre Fritz and Michell Pereira, who will both be officiating in their second ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

ICC's Senior Manager of Umpires and Referees, Sean Easey, beamed with pride about the quality of the officiating team.

“The ICC is proud to be contributing to the advancement of women in our sport. To be announcing this all-female lineup of match officials for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 is wonderful. This group, selected as the most deserving umpires for this event following their recent form in bilateral and other cricket, are some of the very best from around the world.

“We are confident that they will do a great job at this event. I wish them the best of luck as they oversee the world’s top women’s cricketers in what will be an exciting tournament for all involved,” Easey said.

The ICC supports the ongoing development of all international umpires via a clear high performance officiating programme, through the appointment of ICC Umpire Coaches, by working with Full Member Board officiating managers and coaches to align practices, by employing two full-time data and digital video specialists to help review decisions, and by conducting regular performance reviews either online or in Dubai as the officials pass through on assignment.

Panel of Match Referees: Shandré Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michell Pereira.

Panel of Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Anna Harris, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, and Jacquiline Williams.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots captain Andre Fletcher was straightforward with his words after his side ended their CPL 2024 campaign with a ninth defeat in a row at the hands of Trinbago Knight Riders in Tarouba on Sunday.

Yesterday alone, they dropped Nicholas Pooran at least four times. The in form left-hander then led a chase of 194 with an unbeaten 93 off 43 balls.

According to ESPNCricinfo logs, the Patriots had at least 23 dropped catches throughout their 10 games this season.

"The guys [bowlers] executed well and dropping five catches in a crucial game, especially a world-class player as Pooran…I know, but not many people know, we dropped 28 catches in the tournament," Fletcher told ESPNCricinfo.

"As a fielding team, it's poor, way below poor. It actually cost us a lot of games, which we lost."

Despite their retched form as a team this season, Fletcher praised his team-mates for having each other's back through the tournament.

Across the last two seasons, the Patriots have a record of two wins against 18 losses.

"Knowing that it was a bit hard and tough for us losing, but tried to keep the team together as much as possible. We had a lot of team-bonding activities. Yes, as much as we weren't showing it on the field, but sometimes when teams lose, you tend to have a lot of bickering in the team, but we never had that. We stuck together and we gelled as a team and it's just sad that the result didn't show. But I must say that we stick as a family,” he said.

"Just want to apologise to the St Kitts and Nevis fans. I know you guys are hurt, so am I. Unfortunately, we didn't get it well this year, hopefully, next year it will be better," he added.

Individually, the 36-year-old had a productive tournament with the bat, scoring 318 runs in ten innings at an average of 31.80 and strike rate of just under 150.

Along the way, Fletcher became the highest run-getter in the history of the CPL, but Johnson Charles, whose team has made the playoffs, has a chance to surpass him.

"I'm very pleased, to be honest, [with my batting]," Fletcher said. "People tend to remember the last thing you do. I really wanted to come out here and show what I'm worth. I'm happy to put on a great total for the team but unfortunately, we didn't get over the line. But that's how cricket goes at times."

St. Benedict’s College are now leaders of the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL) Premiership after a hard fought 1-0 win over four-time premier division winners Naparima College at the Mahaica Oval in Port Fortin on Saturday.

The 2022 champions and 2023 runners-up got a second minute goal from Trinidad and Tobago youth player Josiah Ochoa to continue their unbeaten run in the young league season.

Reigning champions Fatima College were also winners on Saturday, 2-0 away to national intercol holders Presentation College (San Fernando) at the Manny Ramjohn Stadium in Marabella.

The goals came from Levi Smith in the 75^th minute and reigning SSFL Player of the Year, Michael Chaves in stoppage time.

Arima North Secondary and Malick Secondary entered the match day atop the 16-team table, and they still couldn’t be separated after 90 minutes at the Arima Velodrome as they played to a 1-1 draw.

Josante Duncan opened the scoring for Malick in the 28th minute, with Arima getting a 54th-minute equaliser through former Fatima student Micha’el John.

On Serpentine Road, St Clair, hosts St Mary’s College and Signal Hill Secondary played to a 2-2 draw.

Signal Hill took the lead in the fourth minute through Khaleem Trim before a brace from St. Mary’s captain Kyle Phillip in the 31^st and 49^th minutes gave them a 2-1 lead.

That lead lasted just 10 minutes as Antonio Hopkins equalised for Signal Hill.

Newly promoted Miracle Ministries Pentecostal High School, who conceded 16 goals in their first three games, got their first points of the season thanks to a 1-0 win over Queen’s Royal College with St Augustine Secondary edging St Anthony’s College by a similar score to open their 2024 account as well.

Aaron Clement was the goal scorer for Miracle Ministries Pentecostal while Elijah Baptiste was on the score sheet for St. Augustine Secondary.

Finally, Trinity College East also got their first points of the season as first-half goals from Khaleem Prince and Xavier Maricheau earned them a 2-1 win over east giants San Juan North Secondary.

St. Benedict’s currently lead the standings with 10 points while Arima North Secondary (8), Malick Secondary (8), Fatima College (7) and Naparima College (7) round out the top five.

The latest edition of the FIFA Coca Cola Men’s World Rankings have seen Barbados avoid their lowest ranking ever, instead moving up two places to 175^th.

This move was as a result of a pair of wins in League C of the CONCACAF Nations League over the Bahamas and the US Virgin Islands.

The Kent Hall coached team first beat the Bahamians 3-2 on September 7 before putting three past the USVI with no reply three days later.

Both games were played at the Bethlehem Soccer Stadium in St. Croix.

The Tridents enjoyed the fourth biggest move in the CONCACAF region in terms of points added during the September window, only trailing Belize, the Dominican Republic and St. Lucia.

Prior to the September window, Barbados had endured a tough run of fixtures, going winless in eight matches, including two heavy defeats to Dominican Republic.

They will be aiming to bounce back up to League B in the CNL when they play the same two opponents at the Wildey Turf next month. 

Further wins at home in October would see Barbados taking another jump in the standings.

Daniel Gazdag scored twice as the Philadelphia Union thrashed rivals D.C. United 4-0 in MLS on Sunday, maintaining their push for a playoff berth.

Hungary international Gazdag netted either side of half-time and was joined on the scoresheet by Mikael Uhre and Tai Baribo as the Union ran riot at Subaru Park.

Uhre scored for a fourth straight game just 13 minutes in, tapping home after good work from Quinn Sullivan on the right flank, then Gazdag doubled Philadelphia's lead three minutes later.

He pounced on a poor clearance from Christopher McVey to lash a shot past Alex Bono, later doubling up by capping a swift 69th-minute counterattack.

Baribo got in on the action between Gazdag's goals by heading home Sullivan's cross, with D.C.'s best opportunity for a consolation seeing Boris Enow's shot deflect off Nathan Harriel and rattle the post.

While Philadelphia continue to occupy the Eastern Conference's final wild-card berth with four regular-season games to play, D.C. are three points adrift of the playoff picture in 13th.

Data Debrief: Gazdag at the double

Gazdag's brace took him to 17 regular-season goals for 2024, seven more than any other Philadelphia player has managed, with Uhre bringing up double figures on Sunday.

Only D.C. captain Christian Benteke – who was limited to two shots totalling 0.14 expected goals (xG) on Sunday – has outscored him in MLS this term (19 goals).