Defending champions Cavalier got the new Jamaica Premier League season underway with a win against Arnett Gardens FC in an enthralling encounter at the UWI-JFF Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence in Kingston.

Central defender, Jamoi Topey, gave Cavalier the lead in the 60^th minute before Chavany Willis got an equaliser that he thought would salvage a draw in the 96^th minute.

Cavalier forward Shaniel Thomas had other ideas as he slotted home a right-footed effort in the 97^th minute to secure a win and three points for the two-time champions.

The second match on Sunday was also an exciting one between four-time champions Waterhouse FC and Montego Bay United, who have also won the title four times.

Montego Bay United took the lead in the 57^th minute through Giovanni Reid before Waterhouse equalised in the 72^nd minute through an Andre Fletcher penalty.

Waterhouse completed the comeback in the 81^st minute through a goal from Devroy Grey.  The action then shifted to Monday, January 17 with two more matches.

Dunbeholden FC and Vere United FC contested the first game with Dunbeholden securing a 2-1 victory.

They took the lead in the eighth minute through an excellent header from Atapharoy Bygrave before Lampard Neil tied things up for Vere in the 57^th minute.

Substitute Jahmiel Hardware secured the three points for Dunbeholden with a well-placed free kick in the 92^nd minute.

In the second match, goals from Warner Brown in the 42^nd minute and Shai Smith in the 87^th minute ensured that five-time winners Tivoli Gardens FC and seven-time winners Portmore United FC played out a 1-1 draw.

On Tuesday, four-time champions Harbour View FC and Molynes United FC played out a 2-2 draw thanks to double strikes from Trayvon Reid and Nicholas Nelson.

Nelson gave Molynes United the lead in the 42^nd minute before Reid made it 1-1 in the 45^th minute.

The 58^th minute saw Nelson get his second to give Molynes United a 2-1 lead before Reid once again equalized in the 90^th minute to ensure the points were shared.

In the second game on the day, goals from Daniel Green in the 14^th and 43^rd minutes, as well as strikes from Allan Ottey in the 17th, Ricardo Morris in the 45th, and Donovan Segree in the 90th helped Mount Pleasant FA secure the biggest win of the round, a 5-1 rout of Humble Lion FC.

Cory Hylton got Humble Lion’s consolation goal in the 83^rd minute.

The second round of matches kicks off on Saturday.