Related items

• Champs Glenmuir High march into Champions Cup final after 5-1 beating of Ocho Rios

  Reigning ISSA Champions Cup titleholders Glenmuir High made another resounding statement in their title defence as they dismantled Ocho Rios High 5-1 in a lopsided semi-final contest at the National Stadium. on Wednesday.

  Glenmuir’s fluency and attacking prowess overwhelmed yet another opponent, as five different players found the back of the net to secure yet another berth in the final.

  Orel Miller (40th), Dusting Cohen (42nd), Ronaldo Campbell (64th), Orane Watson (69th), and substitute Nyron Allen (71st) got the job done for the May Pen-based school after Kaneil Brown gave Ocho Rios a surprise 21st-minute lead.

  Though still on course to retain their crown, Glenmuir’s Head coach Andrew Peart remains grounded.

  “The final is just another game... it is just another step on the journey, and that is just it. Last year was last year; this is a different year, so new possibilities. So we are just going to hydrate, head home, and watch the next game,” Peart shared.

  His counterpart Veron Peterkin felt his team was overwhelmed by the occasion.

  “We made some very expensive mistakes; the discipline wasn’t there throughout the game, and so it is just one of those things. It’s the first time we have made those errors; it is their first time playing in the National Stadium for these boys, so credit to Glenmuir for capitalizing on our errors, and we know what we have to fix moving forward,” he noted.

  Despite Glenmuir’s dominance in possession and two early warning shots from Watson in the sidnetting and Ja-Son Whyte’s shot from a distance that was kept out by Ocho Rios’ custodian Maleek Martin, it was Ocho Rios High who stunned the crowd with the opening goal in the 21st minute.

  Kaneil Brown tried his luck from the top of the 18-yard box, and the effort proved rewarding as Glenmuir’s goalkeeper Justin Murray lost his footing and could only watch as the ball rolled past his near post.

  The goal briefly gave Ocho Rios hope, but it would only serve as a wake-up call for Glenmuir, who shifted into high gear at the backend of the first half.

  They pulled level in the 40th minute through Miller, who calmly finished off a well-worked buildup orchestrated by Whyte, with Cohen serving up the final past for the player sporting the number 17 jersey to register his 18th goal of the season.

  Just two minutes later, Cohen turned from provider to scorer, expertly heading in a delightful chip from Miller, and the quick double salvo flipped the match on its head as Glenmuir went to the break 2-1 up.

  The champions picked up where they left off on the resumption, maintaining relentless pressure on Ocho Rios. Although Orane Watson appeared to extend Glenmuir’s lead in the 50th minute, his goal was ruled offside, momentarily delaying the inevitable.

  However, Ronaldo Campbell made no mistake in the 64th minute, nodding in a perfectly weighted cross from O’Neil Headley to make it 3-1.

  Five minutes later, Watson finally got his goal—his 33rd of the season—turning his marker inside out before driving a powerful right-footer past Martin, who was left flat-footed.

  The rout was completed in the 71st minute when substitute Nyron Allen broke away and audaciously chipped the ball over the onrushing Martin, capping off a scintillating performance from Glenmuir.

• Salah 'making noise' over Liverpool future for financial benefit, claims Bale

  Mohamed Salah's comments surrounding his future at Liverpool may have been an act "to get a bit more money", former Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale said on Wednesday.

  Bale joined the TNT Sports team at Anfield ahead of Liverpool's clash with Madrid, just three days after Salah had caused a stir with speculation over his stay in Merseyside.

  Salah scored twice against Southampton before saying he was "more out than in" due to a lack of action over his contract, which expires at the end of this season.

  Reds great Jamie Carragher criticised those words from the Egypt star, with Bale following up by suggesting Salah will stay at Liverpool despite the ongoings.

  "We never brought those things into conversation, it’s always about training or general life," Bale said before Liverpool's 2-0 win over Madrid at Anfield.

  "I can't imagine that's going to affect anyone, it's going to be sorted out upstairs with his agent.  

  "I'm sure he's just making noise to just get a bit more money to be honest!"

  Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand defended Salah's actions, claiming no wrongdoing or harm could be done from his honesty.

  "The big thing is he hasn't been out of order," Ferdinand added on punditry duties. "He hasn't been disrespectful; he's just stated some facts.

  "As team-mates, that's all you care about. Is he still with us? Mo Salah is scoring goals week in, week out.

  "He wants to win here and it sounds like he wants to stay – but for a bit more money."

  The ongoings may have been playing on Salah's mind against Madrid, having missed a second-half penalty with Liverpool leading 1-0 after Alexis Mac Allister's opener.

  It was just the second penalty Salah has not converted, scuffing the post from 12 yards in the competition from seven attempts.

  Kylian Mbappe also failed with his own spot-kick at the other end prior to that, as Caoimhin Kelleher saved to keep the Reds ahead, before Cody Gakpo's late header made sure of all three points.

  That victory ensured Liverpool are through the 36-team stage in the Champions League, at least guaranteed a play-off game, though that is unlikely considering they lead the table with 15 points.

• Motta lauds 'compact' Juventus in Aston Villa stalemate

  Thiago Motta left Villa Park satisfied after earning a point in a goalless draw with Aston Villa on Wednesday. 

  An injury-hit Juventus, with only 14 outfield players available, held on for much of the contest, but were aided by the intervention of VAR late on. 

  Morgan Rogers thought he had handed Unai Emery's side another victory in the competition in second-half stoppage time. 

  However, his smart finish was disallowed when the video assistant referee deemed Diego Carlos to have fouled goalkeeper Michele di Gregorio in the air.

  Juventus were perhaps fortunate to leave the West Midlands with a point, having mustered an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.44 compared to Villa's 1.23. 

  Despite the Serie A side keeping a clean sheet for the first time in the Champions League since December 2021, Motta conceded his side did not create enough chances.

  "A point secured, the team continues to play compact and with balance," Motta told Amazon Prime Video.

  "Aston Villa started very fast, and they looked for their striker, but we conceded little. It is clear that we have also created little, so as not to give Aston Villa what they were looking for.

  The result left Juventus 19th in the new 36-team standings after drawing back-to-back games in the competition for the first time since November 2017. 

  They find themselves on eight points from their opening five games, with the possibility of competing in the play-offs to seal their qualification to the last 16. 

  "We have great games to play between the league, Coppa Italia and Champions League," Motta said.

  "Another good performance, a point, and we will continue to look for qualification. We will go out on the pitch always with our ideas and trying to win."

  The Bianconeri will be looking to move up the Serie A table this Sunday when they travel to the Stadio Ettore Giardiniero to face Lecce.