Defence is seemingly the best form of attack, so says Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy after his side kept an 11th clean sheet of the season in their 2-0 win over Toronto FC.
After securing their spot in the playoffs, the Crew will be looking to continue their momentum for the final games of the campaign, starting with the visit of Orlando City FC this weekend.
Nancy’s squad have been impressive at both ends of the pitch, keeping the most shutouts in the division along with scoring 54 goals, a total only bettered by Eastern Conference leaders Inter Miami (67), while also conceding the fewest goals in the MLS this term (28).
The Columbus head coach lauded his players for their showings in attack and defence, saying their success this season has been down to the competitive spirit within the group.
“This is not only the backline because the front line, but they also do a good job avoiding certain things,” Nancy said. “Obviously, also the backline does it well.
This is the competitive spirit that we have. After that, we can talk about tactics that we are good at defensively, but for me, this is this desire to compete all the time.
“Sometimes we are unbalanced because it could happen, they are able to make a play at the right moment. This is the chemistry of the team, and this is the spirit of the team. That's why we can also be good defensively.”
But another head coach that has been impressed with his side’s defensive showing is Orlando’s Oscar Pareja, with the Lions having now kept three clean sheets in their last three league games.
Orlando have also scored eight goals during that run, with their last triumph over Charlotte FC moving them up to fourth in the Eastern Conference standings.
While the likes of Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire have starred for the Lions at the top end of the pitch, Pareja was quick to acknowledge the performances of his defenders.
“It’s also a very important phase that we have to highlight tonight as well,” Pareja said.
“Defending well as a group with consistency is probably one of the most difficult parts of the game. The back forward and those midfielders are sustaining the team in a very good way.
“We're solid. Individual performance has risen as well; it's better individually. I think that they have grown a lot during this period.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Columbus Crew – Cucho Hernandez
Hernandez came off the bench to record a goal and an assist in Columbus’ win over Toronto on Wednesday.
Since joining the Crew in July 2022, he has 11 games with both a goal and an assist in all competitions, third among MLS players in that time behind Lionel Messi (12) and Luciano Acosta (18).
Orlando City – Facundo Torres
Torres netted his team-leading 12th goal of the season for Orlando in their win over Charlotte on Wednesday and will be confident of adding to his MLS tally against the Crew.
The Uruguayan boasts an impressive record against this weekend’s opponents, contributing four goal involvements (two goals and two assists) in his five games against Columbus.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLUMBUS CREW WIN
Columbus have won two straight matches against Orlando, both with 2–0 wins in last season’s conference semi-finals and in May this year. The Crew had won just one of their previous 10 matches against the Lions prior to last season’s playoff meeting (D1 L8).
The Crew’s 4-0 loss to Seattle Sounders earlier this month was just their second defeat in their last 39 home matches in all competitions dating back to May 2023. No MLS team under Nancy’s stewardship has ever lost two straight home matches in all competitions.
However, Orlando have won six away matches in the 2024 regular season, having only triumphed more on the road in a single season last year (nine). Only FC Cincinnati (17) have more away wins than Orlando (15) since the start of the 2023 season.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Columbus Crew – 60.5%
Draw – 20.7%
Orlando City – 18.7%
Chris Armas says the Colorado Rapids' comprehensive defeat to Sporting Kansas City must serve as a wakeup call as they prepare to resume their playoff push against Toronto FC.
Colorado won their first two games upon returning to MLS play after the Leagues Cup break, but they were brought crashing back to earth with a 4-1 defeat in Kansas City in midweek.
Armas' men remain in a positive position, sitting fourth in the Western Conference standings with a game in hand on some of the teams around them, but he knows they need to ensure Wednesday's performance was a one-off.
"It's probably a wakeup call to all of us, what these games are going to look like," Armas said. "Everyone's fighting for something.
"Everyone's got something to play for and in our league, everyone is capable. A positive is we're on 47 points, we've earned every one of those points.
"We're in a good spot for the playoffs, we've put ourselves probably a win or two away from the playoffs.
"We're going to get home and regroup quickly, then get right back where we've been all year."
Toronto, meanwhile, are occupying a wild-card spot in the East after losing 2-0 to the Columbus Crew in their last match.
"We should have taken something out of the first half, that's clear, then in the second half we had to capitalise on the moments we had," coach John Herdman said afterwards.
"For us, the lads were in the fight, there was a good spirit and they were tactically disciplined and committed.
"We need that from every single player to get into the playoffs, we need every player to play above their level."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colorado Rapids – Djordje Mihailovic
Mihailovic has 22 goal involvements in MLS play this season (10 goals, 12 assists), the most of any Colorado player. He has not scored in any of their last four regular-season home games, though, so he will be desperate to get back among the goals here.
Toronto FC – Deandre Kerr
Kerr has scored two of Toronto's last three goals in MLS play. He has five goal involvements (three goals, two assists) in just 10 league starts this year.
MATCH PREDICTION – COLORADO RAPIDS WIN
Toronto have earned just 15 points from 45 available on their travels in MLS play this season, winning four, drawing three and losing eight.
They face a daunting task at Dicks' Sporting Goods Park, where Colorado have a record of nine wins, three draws and two defeats in regular-season action this season.
The Rapids are also unbeaten in their last nine league games on their own turf, winning seven and drawing two, and they are favoured to maintain that form here.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colorado Rapids- 57.8%
Toronto FC – 20.3%
Draw – 21.9%
An inspirational super sub-performance by Sean-John Curchar propelled last year’s beaten finalists Hydel High to a 4-0 win over Clan Carthy High in ISSA/Manning Cup action at the Homestead Community Centre on Wednesday.
Curchar provided a goal and an assist as Hydel secured their second win in as many games this season on their quest to claim a maiden Manning Cup title.
Despite being two from two and yet to concede a goal, Hydel are currently second in Zone A behind Eltham High who improved their record to three wins from three with a 5-0 win over Dunoon Technical.
Eltham have now scored 20 goals in three games and have also yet to concede.
St. Andrew Technical High School defeated Camperdown 2-0 and moved to seven points as they continue to lead the pack for Zone D.
Vauxhall High again showed resilience as they held Calabar High to a goalless draw and remained second after yet another stellar home performance.
Elsewhere, STATHS moved to the top of Zone D with a 2-0 win over Camperdown at Boys’ Town while Calabar High and Vauxhall played out a 0-0 draw at Vauxhall.
Sandro Schwarz says the New York Red Bulls must change their behaviour amid a disappointing return to MLS action, ahead of Saturday's clash with Atlanta United.
The Red Bulls have not won since MLS returned following the Leagues Cup break, with Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire extending their winless streak to four games.
They have now slipped to fifth in the Eastern Conference and though a playoff berth still looks overwhelmingly likely, the pressure is on as they battle for a home seeding.
"Pressure is normal in professional sports, especially when you lose games like we did, or like the home game against Philly," Schwarz said.
"But we can influence this with our behaviour on the field and off the field, and it starts today.
"We have to change our behaviour immediately now for the last five games and the pressure is normal. It's also normal to have pressure when you win, for the game after."
Atlanta, meanwhile, are one point outside the playoff picture, having earned a creditable 2-2 draw with Inter Miami in midweek.
"From a tactical point of view maybe it's not the type of soccer we want to play, but in terms of work rate and a commitment to try to win the game, it gets you far. You can't just turn it on or turn it off, it doesn't work that way," interim boss Rob Valentino said.
On the playoff battle, he added: "I think we were one point out of it so I can't sit here and think about being disappointed.
"We move forward, now we're going to have to pick up points on the road."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New York Red Bulls – Dante Vanzeir
Vanzeir recorded his 12th goal involvement of the season as the Red Bulls were beaten in Chicago last time out, teeing up Dennis Gjengaar's equaliser.
His 10 assists in MLS play this term are more than twice that of the next-closest Red Bulls players, with Elias Manoel, Lewis Morgan and Dylan Nealis all having four apiece.
Atlanta United – Aleksey Miranchuk
Miranchuk's late goal salvaged a draw for Atlanta versus Miami last time out, his first MLS goal in his fourth appearance in the competition. If the Five Stripes are to gatecrash the playoffs, they need him to produce in the coming weeks.
MATCH PREDICTION – NEW YORK RED BULLS WIN
The Red Bulls trounced Atlanta 4-0 at Red Bull Arena when the sides met in this exact fixture last season, and while Atlanta should be more competitive this time around, another home win looks likely.
Saturday's hosts have only lost one of their 14 home matches in MLS play this year, winning seven and drawing six.
Atlanta, meanwhile, have lost half (7/14) of their road games, and have only won one of their last six matches in all competitions (three draws, two defeats).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
New York Red Bulls – 51.8%
Atlanta United – 23.7%
Draw – 24.6%
Dean Smith knows Charlotte FC must start producing in the final third if they are to cling onto an MLS Cup Playoff spot, starting with Saturday's meeting with the New England Revolution.
Charlotte sit seventh in the Eastern Conference standings, boasting a five-point cushion to those outside the playoff places, but they have struggled since the Leagues Cup break.
Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at Orlando City was their third loss in succession, and they have only scored twice in four games since returning to MLS play, leaving Smith frustrated.
"At the moment we're having to work really hard to stay in a game, because we're not creating enough big chances, we're not scoring enough goals full stop," Smith said.
"So I was really frustrated. As I say, that's something that's probably crept in over the last four games since we came back from the break.
"We've only scored two goals in the last four games since the Leagues Cup and I feel some of the players are struggling to find their form and their confidence at the moment.
"At this point of the season, that little bit of a lack of concentration has been disappointing."
New England, meanwhile, threw away a 2-0 lead in their 2-2 midweek draw with CF Montreal, a result that leaves them five points adrift of the playoff picture at the foot of the Eastern Conference.
"It's another disappointing result. That's six points we've dropped in our last three home games," Porter said. "We could have been in a much different situation.
"We've got to pick ourselves back up and continue to look at the good, but as I told the guys, I'm tired of seeing them fall off in the second halves."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte FC – Patrick Agyemang
With the hosts struggling for goals, they may need Agyemang to step up. He started on the bench last time out and has appeared as a substitute eight times this season, yet his seven goals are still more than any of his team-mates.
New England Revolution – Carles Gil
Gil laid on an assist as the Revs drew with Montreal last time out, his 10th in 22 appearances this season – more than any other Revs player.
MATCH PREDICTION – CHARLOTTE FC WIN
Charlotte are winless in their last six regular-season matches, registering three straight draws then being defeated in each of their last three, having won four of their previous six before this run began.
New England have not fared much better of late, though, going four league games without a win (two draws, two defeats) and only winning one of their last nine (three draws, five losses).
No team in the Eastern Conference has lost more away games than the Revs' nine this term, so this match could come at a good time for Charlotte.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Charlotte FC – 51.5%
New England Revolution – 23.8%
Draw – 24.7%
Clarendon College continued their quest to defend their ISSA/DaCosta Cup title with a 6-0 victory over Thompson Town High at Foga Road High on Wednesday.
Justin Hayles and Keanu Jennings both scored doubles to help the defending champs move to a perfect nine points from as many games to lead Zone H.
Denbigh High moved up into second place in Zone H after their 5-1 win over Edwin Allen High at Edwin Allen.
Three other schools also got their third win as Ocho Rios High, William Knibb Memorial and Manchester High secured victories over Aabuthnott Gallimore, Discovery Bay High and deCarteret College, respectively.
Ocho Rios High improved their advantage in Zone K after a 4-0 win over Aabuthnott Gallimore High with Tyrese Brown scoring a hat trick and Ryan Francis getting the other.
Ocho Rios High are now on nine points after a third straight win, four more than second place Ferncourt High.
William Knibb Memorial managed a 1-0 win over Discovery Bay High for their third win in Zone D while Michael Reid and Javis Lloyd scored for Manchester High in their 2-1 win over deCarteret College.
Tyrese Gowe and Raheem Harris both scored doubles to lead Dinthill Technical to a 6-0 win over Charlemont High as Gaybriel Anderson and Giovanni Afflick also got one goal each.
This was the second win for Dinthill Technical who now lead Zone J on goal difference over McGrath High.
At Jarrett Park, St James High rallied twice to earn an exciting 3-3 draw against Green Pond High in Zone A.
Green Pond got off to a fast start and were leading 2-0 with goals from Garth-Dane Bromwell in the seventh minute and Jerome Whynn in the 16th minute.
St James hit back with goals from Kevar Stewart in the 36th minute and Rory Smith in the 43rd minute as they were tied at 2-2 at half time.
Bromwell restored Green Pond High’s lead in the 46th minute but St James salvaged a point when Tariq Kerr scored in the 77th minute.
Garvey Maceo rebounded from their loss to Glenmuir High on Saturday with a 12-1 beating of Porus High with Omarion O’Brian and Rajay McLaughlin both leading the way with hat tricks while Maliek Robinson scored a brace.
Other results
Maggoty High 2-0 Lacovia High
Mile Gully High 0-2 Alphansus Davis High
Holmwood Technical 3-1 Knox College
Claude McKay High 0-3 Lennon High
Yallahs High 0-2 Morant Bay High
Robert Lightbourne High 1-3 Paul Bogle High
Seaforth High 0-4 Happy Grove High
Titchfield High 2-1 St. Mary High
Horace Clarke High 1-4 Port Antonio High
Jamaica’s Frazsiers Whip suffered a third-consecutive loss in the Concacaf Women’s Champions Cup as they were hammered 7-1 by Mexican counterparts Tigres UANL Femenil in another lopsided Group A affair at the National Stadium on Wednesday.
Ana Dias (sixth), Ana Seica (14th), Thembi Kgatlana (23rd), Alison Gonzalez (60th), Belen Cruz (62nd), and a brace from Stephany Mayor (81st and 90+8) completed the rout for Tigres UANL.
Davia Richards (55th) got Frazsiers Whip’s first goal of the tournament which served as a consolation for the St Catherine outfit.
The win propelled Tigres UANL to the top of the group on six points, while Frazsiers Whip remain rooted at the foot of the five-team table without a point. NY/NJ Gotham (three points), Alajuelense (three points) and CF Monterrey (three points) are the other teams in the group.
It was always expected to be another tough encounter for Frazsiers Whip and they found themselves behind when Dias fired home a firm right-footer from dead centre of the box.
Seica doubled the lead for the six-time Liga MX Femenil Champions when she rose above defenders to head past Italya Robinson in goal for Frazsiers Whip from a corner kick.
Davia Richards celebrates her team's first goal of the tournament.
Before the Frazsiers Whip could catch their breath, they found themselves further behind, as Kgatlana found space inside the 18-yard box to drive home a right-footed effort to put Tigres UANL 3-0 up at the break.
Needing a goal to lift their spirits, Frazsiers Whip got just that from Richards, who fired home, from an angle, 10 minutes into the resumption to give the Jamaican fans something to celebrate.
However, it was back to regular proceedings for Tigres UANL five minutes later when Gonzalez converted from the penalty spot after being felled inside the red zone.
Cruz then added a fifth two minutes past the hour mark as she slotted home from a weighted Dias cross.
It was then time for the Stephany Mayor show as the former Mexican captain got in on the act with a well-taken effort on the volley that gave Robinson no chance at a save.
Mayor then completed her brace and her team’s win with another tidy right-footed finish in time added.
Tigres UANL will next host Costa Rican champions LD Alajuelense on October 2 in Mexico, while Frazsiers Whip will welcome NWSL champions NJ/NY Gotham on the same day, at the National Stadium.
CONCACAF has confirmed the schedule, venues, and kickoff times for the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League (CNL) Group Stage matches that will take place during the October 2024 FIFA Match Window.
The fourth edition of the CNL kicked off in September with thrilling matches across all three Leagues (A, B, and C). Some of the highlights included Elijah Seymour of the Cayman Islands scoring the competition’s 1,000th goal, Guadeloupe getting its first win in League A (1-0 vs Suriname), Bermuda defeating Antigua and Barbuda in an official match for the first time since 1992, and a closely contested draw between Costa Rica and Guatemala.
A total of 37 CNL matches will be played next month (October 9-15), concluding Group Stage play for Leagues A and C, while League B will play through November.
League A
In League A, the 12 matches that will be played in October will determine the four teams (group winners and runners-up) that will join Concacaf's four top-ranked teams - Canada, Mexico, Panama, and the United States (listed alphabetically) - in the Quarterfinals, as well as the third and fourth-place finishers and fifth and sixth-place finishers that will progress to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims and CNL Play-In, respectively.
The CNL Quarterfinals will be played in a home-and-away format in November 2024, with the aggregate score winner in each matchup advancing to the 2025 Concacaf Nations League Finals and qualifying for the 2025 Gold Cup. The Quarterfinal losers will advance to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims.
CNL Quarterfinal pairings will be determined based on the Concacaf Rankings as of October 2024 (after the FIFA Window) and the Group Stage results, as follows:
QF1: Fourth-ranked seeded team vs Best first place (1A/1B)
QF2: Third-ranked seeded team vs Next first place (1A/1B)
QF3: Second-ranked seeded team vs Best second place (2A/2B)
QF4: Best-ranked seeded team vs Next second place (2A/2B)
The CNL Play-In will take place in November 2024, and the Gold Cup Prelims will be in March 2025. Further details on the Play-In are available below.
League B
League B will continue Group Stage play in October and November, as 16 nations battle for Gold Cup Qualification and promotion for the competition’s next edition. The confirmed host venues for October’s League B matches are as follows:
Group A: Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Group B: Darren Sammy Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
Group C: Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion, Oranjestad, Aruba
Group D: Bermuda National Sports Centre, Devonshire, Bermuda
League C
October will also conclude Group Stage play for League C. After the League’s last match on Tuesday, October 15, the three group winners and the best second-place finisher will advance to the CNL Play-In.
The confirmed host venues for the October matches are as follows:
Group A: Wildey Turf, Wildey, Barbados
Group B: FFB Stadium, Belmopan, Belize
Group C: Warner Park Football Stadium, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
2024/25 Concacaf Nations League Play-In
The CNL Play-In will take place during the FIFA Match Window of November. It will consist of a single direct elimination round and eight teams: the fifth and sixth-place finishers from the League A Groups and the group winners and the best second-place finisher from League C.
The eight teams will be split into four pairings based on their Group Stage performance, as follows:
PI1: Best 5th Place (League A) vs Best 2nd Place (League C)
PI2: Next 5th Place (League A) vs Best 3rd Group Winner (League C)
PI3: Best 6th Place (League A) vs Best 2nd Group Winner (League C)
PI4: Next 6th Place (League A) vs Best 1st Group Winner (League C)
After home-and-away play, the aggregate score winner in each matchup will advance to the 2025 Gold Cup Prelims.
2024/25 Concacaf Nations League Schedule – October Matches
*Matches listed by League and in ET | local time
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
(C) 15:30 | 15:30 British Virgin Islands vs St. Kitts and Nevis - Warner Park Football Stadium, Basseterre, SKN
(C) 20:00 | 20:00 US Virgin Islands vs Barbados - Wildey Turf, Wildey, BAR
(C) 22:00 | 20:00 Anguilla vs Belize - FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ
Thursday, October 10, 2024
(A) 15:30 | 16:30 French Guiana vs Honduras - Stade Municipal Dr Edmard Lama, Remire Montjoly, GUF
(A) 16:00 | 16:00 Cuba vs Trinidad and Tobago - Estadio Antonio Maceo, Santiago, CUB
(B) 16:00 | 16:00 Bonaire vs Montserrat - Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, Kingstown, VIN
(B) 21:00 | 21:00 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines vs El Salvador - Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, Kingstown, VIN
(A) 22:00 | 20:00 Nicaragua vs Jamaica - Estadio Nacional, Managua, NCA
Friday, October 11, 2024
(B) 16:00 | 16:00 Sint Maarten vs Puerto Rico - Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion, Oranjestad, ARU
(A) 16:00 | 16:00 Guadeloupe vs Martinique - Stade Roger Zami, Le Gosier, GLP
(B) 17:00 | 17:00 Grenada vs Curacao - Darren Sammy Ground, Gros Islet, LCA
(A) 18:00 | 19:00 Suriname vs Costa Rica - Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium, Paramaribo, SUR
(B) 19:00 | 19:00 Aruba vs Haiti - Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion, Oranjestad, ARU
(B) 20:00 | 20:00 Saint Martin vs St. Lucia - Darren Sammy Ground, Gros Islet, LCA
(A) 21:00 | 21:00 Guyana vs Guatemala - National Track & Field Centre, Leonora, GUY
Saturday, October 12, 2024
(B) 13:30 | 14:30 Antigua and Barbuda vs Dominican Republic - Bermuda National Sports Centre, Devonshire, BER
(C) 15:30 | 15:30 Cayman Islands vs British Virgin Islands - Warner Park Football Stadium r, Basseterre, SKN
(B) 18:30 | 19:30 Dominica vs Bermuda - Bermuda National Sports Centre, Devonshire, BER
(C) 20:00 | 20:00 Bahamas vs US Virgin Islands - Wildey Turf, Wildey, BAR
(C) 22:00 | 20:00 Turks and Caicos Islands vs Anguilla - FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ
Sunday, October 13, 2024
(B) 15:00 | 15:00 Montserrat vs Bonaire - Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, Kingstown, VIN
(B) 20:00 | 20:00 El Salvador vs Saint Vincent and the Grenadines - Arnos Vale Sporting Complex, Kingstown, VIN
Monday, October 14, 2024
(B) 16:00 |16:00 Puerto Rico vs Sint Maarten - Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion, Oranjestad, ARU
(B) 16:00 | 16:00 Curacao vs Grenada - Darren Sammy Ground, Gros Islet, LCA
(B) 19:00 | 19:00 St. Lucia vs Saint Martin - Darren Sammy Ground, Gros Islet, LCA
(B) 19:00 | 19:00 Haiti vs Aruba - Guillermo Prospero Trinidad Stadion, Oranjestad, ARU
(A) 21:00 | 20:00 Jamaica vs Honduras - National Stadium, Kingston, JAM
(A) 21:00 | 21:00 Trinidad and Tobago vs Cuba - Dwight Yorke Stadium, Tobago, TRI
(A) 21:00 | 19:00 Nicaragua vs French Guiana - Estadio Nacional, Managua, NCA
Tuesday, October 15, 2024
(B) 13:30 |14:30 Dominican Republic vs Antigua and Barbuda - Bermuda National Sports Centre, Devonshire, BER
(C) 15:30 | 15:30 St. Kitts and Nevis vs Cayman Islands - Warner Park Football Stadium, Basseterre, SKN
(B) 18:30 | 19:30 Bermuda vs Dominica - Bermuda National Sports Centre, Devonshire, BER
(A) 20:00 | 18:00 Costa Rica vs Guatemala - Estadio Nacional, San Jose, CRC
(A) 20:00 | 20:00 Martinique vs Guadeloupe - Stade Pierre Aliker, Fort de France, MTQ
(A) 20:00 | 21:00 Suriname vs Guyana - Dr. Ir. Franklin Essed Stadium, Paramaribo, SUR
(C) 20:00 | 20:00 Barbados vs Bahamas - Wildey Turf, Wildey, BAR
(C) 22:00 | 20:00 Belize vs Turks and Caicos Islands - FFB Stadium, Belmopan, BLZ
The Trinidad and Tobago U16 and U18 netball teams have arrived in Jamaica for the inaugural Island Vibes Tournament, set to take place from September 20-22. This new event will see Jamaica's National U16 team face off against Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team in a two-match series, while the Trinidad and Tobago U18 team will compete against Denbigh High School, the winners of the recent Youth Summer Invitational and the first holders of the Marva Bernard Trophy.
Jamaica’s U16 squad, composed of talented schoolgirl representatives from both urban and rural schools, has been preparing for this series over the past six months under the leadership of co-coaches Nardia Hanson and Kerry-Ann Brown. The team, which was the runner-up to Denbigh High's U18 team in the recent Youth Summer Invitational, comprises a well-rounded mix of defenders, center court players, and shooters. The squad includes defenders Henicka Henry, Kyara Johnson, Denesia Laing, Ashley Kentish, and Sashane Smith. The center court is represented by Shamwua Hall, Jody-Ann Flemmings, Brianya Allen, Natasha Pringle, Reniecia Jones, and Jada Campbell, while the shooting duties will be handled by Kaelyn-Keandra Smith, Kheresha Peccoo, Syranna Brown, and Kalee Martin.
Vice President of Netball Jamaica, Simone Forbes, expressed excitement about the opportunity for the Jamaican girls to play in an international series. "The Coaches and the girls are excited about this opportunity to play an International Series," said Forbes. "Our sponsors Carimed, Wisynco, NHT, Budget Car Rentals, and INSPORT have pledged their support, and so this will be an interesting series which we anticipate will help us to promote Youth Development in the Region. We are very happy that the teams from Trinidad and Tobago were able to come to compete. We encourage all school coaches and members of school teams as well as the public to come out and support all our girls."
Trinidad and Tobago's President, Sherry-Ann Blackburn, also expressed her enthusiasm for the competition. "We are all excited and gearing up for intense competition in Jamaica this weekend. Our national Under 16 and Under 18 teams have gone through rigorous training supervised by our dedicated technical staff. We are happy to be a part of this new and innovative series and hope it will help to make a real difference as the Region continues to put structures in place to build high-performance teams."
The Island Vibes Tournament promises an exciting lineup of matches at the Leila Robinson Courts, Independence Park Limited. The action kicks off on Friday, September 20, with Denbigh High taking on Trinidad and Tobago's U18 team at 6:00 PM. Following that, Jamaica's U16 team will clash with Trinidad and Tobago's U16 team at 7:15 PM. The series concludes on Sunday, September 22, starting at 4:30 PM when Denbigh High faces the Trinidad and Tobago U18s once again. The final match, scheduled for 5:45 PM, will feature the Jamaica U16s against the Trinidad and Tobago U16s. The tournament will culminate with a closing ceremony and medal presentation at 7:00 PM.
The event is also supported by several sponsors, including Confidence, Kendel, Wata, Powerade, NHT, Budget, Stewart’s Automotive, ILE, and JACE Management. It is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, further showcasing the region's commitment to youth development in sports. Arleene Findlay serves as the Competition Manager for the tournament.
The Trinbago Knight Riders pulled off a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday night in a pulsating Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) encounter at Queen's Park Oval. A pair of back-to-back sixes from Tim David at the start of the final over sealed the win for the Knight Riders, capping off a match that was filled with drama and shifts in momentum.
The match began with a touch of sentimentality as Knight Riders' captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and elected to field first. Before the action got underway, the team gave Dwayne Bravo a touching guard of honor, recognizing what could be the veteran all-rounder's final game at the iconic venue following his earlier announcement of retirement from the CPL. However, once play began, the Knight Riders showed no mercy, reducing the Warriors to 76-7 with a disciplined bowling performance.
Romario Shepherd, however, staged a crucial lower-order fightback for the Warriors. Shepherd's gritty half-century helped his team recover from their precarious position, steering them to a competitive total of 148-7. His innings injected life back into the contest and set the stage for a tense chase under the lights at Queen's Park Oval.
The Knight Riders' response was anything but straightforward. Struggling to find the boundary during the middle overs, they found themselves precariously placed at 89/5. With the game hanging in the balance, the 17th over proved to be the turning point. Andre Russell, who was named Player of the Match, took charge by smashing three sixes off Nathan Sowter's bowling. This onslaught not only revived the Knight Riders' chase but also shifted the momentum firmly in their favor, reducing the required runs to a manageable figure.
Speaking after the game, Russell revealed his mindset during the tense chase. "The mindset was that I know I can hit sixes and that Tim David is a six-hitter as well. I told him that we had 24 balls, and we had to hit eight sixes," Russell said.
The final over began with Tim David on strike, and he wasted no time in sealing the victory. With consecutive sixes, David secured the five-wicket win for the Knight Riders, sending the home crowd into raptures and ensuring a fairytale finish was still possible for Dwayne Bravo in this year's CPL.
An emotional Russell paid tribute to his teammate Bravo after the match. "Who I am today has a lot to do with him. I am just happy to be part of this game. That's why it was an emotional celebration; he deserved that win... I think he'll shed a tear tonight. This one is for DJ Bravo," he said, highlighting the bond between the two cricketing stalwarts.
The match was a high-class affair, played with intensity and sportsmanship as both teams fought to secure a spot in the latter stages of the competition. With this victory, the Knight Riders move up to eight points from five games, positioning themselves well for a deep run in the tournament. For the Warriors, the loss was a setback, but their spirited performance ensured they remain in contention as the competition progresses.
As the CPL season heats up, the Knight Riders' victory has added to the excitement, and with Bravo's retirement storyline still in play, the 2024 CPL promises more drama and memorable moments in the matches to come.
Aleksei Miranchuk's stunning late goal salvaged a 2-2 draw for Atlanta United, ending Inter Miami's winning streak.
The visitors brought Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez off the bench in the second half but were unable to make it six wins on the bounce.
Miami had the better of the first half, with Julian Gressel forcing Brad Guzan into an acrobatic save before David Ruiz snuck in behind the hosts' defence to slot a lovely low shot into the bottom-right corner.
In the 56th minute, Saba Lobjanidze met Pedro Amador's whipped cross with a thumping header, nodding it through Drake Callender's legs, and the keeper arguably should have done better.
But just three minutes later, Miami were back in front – Leonardo Campana's free-kick from just outside the box took a huge deflection off the wall, giving the keeper no chance.
Messi led the search for a late third, with his low shot palmed away by Guzan straight into Suarez's path, but Amador was perfectly placed on the line to block it.
Atlanta then went straight up the other end, with Miranchuk floating a wonderful shot into the top-left corner after cutting inside from the right before Lobjanidze's late effort deflected off Ian Fray onto the post.
Miami are now eight points clear at the top of the Eastern Conference, while Atlanta sit in 11th.
Data Debrief: Campana makes Miami history
Campana may have got a bit of luck with his goal due to a wicked deflection, but he will not care one bit, as that strike was his 30th goal for Miami.
He now becomes the outright all-time leading scorer for the club, overtaking Gonzalo Higuain, though Messi is just three behind him.
JThe September window of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League A group stage is now complete, and standout performances have led to Jamaica's Michail Antonio and Kasey Palmer, along with Guyana's Isaiah Jones, being named in the Best XI for the group stage fixtures.
Palmer was a crucial figure for the Reggae Boyz, dominating the midfield with his commanding presence. Defensively, he was a rock, securing eight steals and disrupting the opposition's play consistently. In addition to his defensive work, Palmer was also efficient in possession, completing an impressive 92.42 percent of his passes, making him a key conduit in transitioning from defense to attack. His dynamic performance in the midfield was instrumental in Jamaica's strong start to the Nations League campaign.
Leading Jamaica's attacking efforts, Antonio once again demonstrated why he is one of the country's top forwards. Antonio contributed a goal and was a constant threat to opposing defenses, taking five shots over the two group-stage matches. His ability to put pressure on the opposition and create scoring opportunities played a vital role in Jamaica's offensive strategy. Antonio's inclusion in the Best XI reflects his consistent ability to impact games at the highest level.
Guyana's Jones also earned his spot in the Best XI with a standout performance in the group stage. Jones scored a crucial brace in Guyana’s visit to Martinique, securing the team's first points of the campaign with a significant draw. His efforts were pivotal for Guyana, showcasing his goal-scoring instincts and resilience on the international stage.
The Best XI also features notable performances from players like Nicholas Hagen of Guatemala, who was instrumental in his team's unbeaten start with key saves and a clean sheet against Costa Rica. Costa Rica's defensive duo, Juan Pablo Vargas and Francisco Calvo, made the list for their commanding performances, each contributing both defensively and offensively to Costa Rica's solid start. Honduras' midfielders David Ruiz and Kervin Arriaga impressed with their all-around play, with Ruiz particularly standing out as a young talent to watch.
The inclusion of two Jamaican players in the Best XI highlights the team's strong performance in the early stages of the 2024/25 Concacaf Nations League. With both Michail Antonio leading the attack and Kasey Palmer anchoring the midfield, the Reggae Boyz have demonstrated their quality and potential as they aim for success in the competition. The recognition of these players also underscores the depth and talent present in the Caribbean football scene, showcasing their impact on the regional stage.
West Indies legend Brian Lara believes Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) can justify favouritism in this year's Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 tournament provided the team’s pedigree and cohesiveness stand out among their rivals.
Lara’s views came during the launch of his book on Tuesday and ahead of the Trinbago Knight Riders’ almighty clash with reigning champions Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Queen's Park Oval on Wednesday.
While noting that the Twin Island Republic’s franchise boasts a deep squad of high-quality players, which makes them favourites, Lara pointed out that it is their performances that will account for whether or not they take home the title this season.
“I think obviously TKR will stand up as favourites every time,” Lara declared.
“When you look at the quality of players in the team, you would think they should go on to win. But again, in the past, we've seen the team that plays better win. It's not how many superstars you have,” he added.
With three wins and one loss so far this campaign, Trinbago Knight Riders currently sit fourth on six points, four points behind leaders Barbados Royals, who have played two games more. St Lucia Kings on eight points and Guyana Amazon Warriors on six points occupy the other playoff positions.
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons (four points) and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (two points) are fifth and sixth, respectively.
Being the only franchise to win the tournament four times—2015 as Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel, 2017, 2018, and 2020—Lara is of no doubt that Trinbago Knight Riders can add to their tally.
However, he stressed that it will take more than just talk and quality on paper.
“What we're hoping for with TKR is that togetherness. Individuals may win you a match, but teams win tournaments,” Lara reasoned.
“I'm hoping captain Kieron Pollard will keep the guys together; they work hard, be humble, and get the victory that's necessary,” he noted.
With both the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Guyana Amazon Warriors showing some degree of consistency so far this season, Wednesday’s clash is expected to be a humdinger to kickstart the former’s home leg of fixtures.
England all-rounder Chris Jordan will bolster the Knight Riders bowling attack as he replaces the injured American Ali Khan.
But the Amazon Warriors have also strengthened their bowling attack with the inclusion of Australian leg spinner Nathan Sowter, who temporarily replaces captain Imran Tahir, recovering from an injury.
Antiguan outfit Grenades FC secured their first point of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup as they came from behind to hold AC Port of Spain to a 1-1 stalemate in a lukewarm Group B contest at Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Tuesday.
Shackiel Smek Henry (21st) put AC Port of Spain in front, but that strike was cancelled out by Sean Tomlinson (90+5), who ensured Grenades FC registered their first point of the campaign.
AC Port of Spain remain third on two points behind the Dominican Republic duo of Moca FC and Cibao FC, both on four points each. Haiti’s Ouanaminthe sit fourth on a point, while Grenades remain at the foot of the five-team standings.
With both teams coming of losses in their previous encounters, it was anybody’s guess where the points would go. However, AC Port of Spain being the more illustrious of the two, coupled with the fact that they were at home, was slightly favoured to notch their first win of the campaign.
They seemed well on their way to achieving that feat when Henry pounced on a loose ball and fired home from close range.
Though they were forced into substituting goalkeeper Denzil Smith, who was replaced by Marvin Phillip, AC Port of Spain were still in safe hands. This, as Phillip immediately impacted the contest when he denied Quinton Griffith from the penalty spot in the 53rd minute.
Duane Muckette should have doubled AC Port of Spain’s lead from the penalty spot on the hour mark, but his tame kick was kept out by Zaieem Scott in goal for Grenades FC.
That missed opportunity would later haunt them as Tomlinson injected tempo in the latter staged of the contest for Grenades. He should have pulled them level in the 85th, but muffed his effort in a one-on-one situation with Phillip, who left his line well.
However, Tomlinson made amends on the final play of the encounter as he expertly headed home Keanu Barrett’s weighted cross, giving Phillip no chance at a save in time added.
With the point set to serve as a morale booster, Grenades will be hoping to convert it to a win when they square off against Ouanaminthe FC in Dominican Republic next Tuesday, while AC Port of Spain will host Cibao FC on the same day.
SportsMax is the Caribbean sports channel of choice, committed to providing sporting content of the highest quality to the Caribbean, delivered by a team of highly innovative, passionate and qualified professionals.
(876) 619-7629
digitalmedia@sportsmax.tv
