8 months ago
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THE BATTLE for the sixth and final play-off berth and the fight for second and an automatic spot in the semi-final will take centre stage when the final round of preliminary games in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) get underway today at 3:30 p.m.
The feature match-ups of the day will see second-place Tivoli Gardens facing seventh-place Montego Bay United at Catherine Hall, sixth-place Waterhouse entertain Harbour View at Drewsland, and third-place Cavalier play Molynes United at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.
Tivoli and Cavalier are tied on 51 points and are both vying for the second automatic semi-final spot, with Mount Pleasant having already secured first place with an unassailable 56 points. Tivoli, though, have the advantage in case of the need for a tie-breaker, having a +29 goal difference, four better than Cavalier at +25.
Tivoli travel away to MoBay in a must-win match for both teams, as anything less than a win for either team could see Tivoli missing out on the automatic semi-final spot, or MoBay missing the play-offs all together.
Tivoli have just two losses in their last 12 outings, but those defeats came to leaders Mount Pleasant and MoBay.
While they have not tasted defeat in six matches, coach Jerome Waite knows MoBay will be equally or even more motivated to win.
A very competitive game
“Cavalier having the same amount of points will be playing a lesser-ranked team with nowhere to go, which means it will be more difficult on our side.
‘MoBay need the points, as Waterhouse will also be up against a team that is going nowhere. So this will be a very competitive game,” Waite surmised
MoBay, 40 points, trail Waterhouse on a minus-six goal difference. So, if Waterhouse wins, MoBay will have to win and win handsomely in order to overtake Waterhouse for the last play-off berth.
MoBay are now nine games unbeaten with four straight wins, and coach Neider dos Santos said his team is confident and eager for the challenge
“This is a very important and very tough game. The team is ready to go. Everybody is very eager to play this game, and we go for it. We go for a win,” he said.
“The team is much better now. Tivoli is a very good team. As a matter of fact, they are a title contender, but we have no other way, so we have to go out and get three points.”
“Our confidence comes from what we did in the second round. This is a different game (from first meeting). But the confidence is not from what we did in the past. Now, the team is very competitive and the players are very eager to get the three points.”
He added that their 12th man has been tremendous all season and he expects them to be at their loudest today.
“Montego Bay supporters have been fantastic. Even more at Catherine Hall where the noise is tremendous. They have intimidated the opponent, so they are going to be crucial in this challenge. And I know they are going to push us from minute one to the 90. So we ready to go do the battle and get the three points,” said dos Santos.
Nevertheless, Waite noted that Tivoli are fully prepared for all eventualities.
“Tivoli has been prepared physically, mentally, technically, as well as tactically.
This game, we have to treat like it is just another game. We need the points.
“We just need to score goals and hopefully keep a clean sheet to secure the second spot,” he said.
Regained their footing
After a brief stumble, Cavalier have regained their footing somewhat with two successive wins, scoring nine goals in the process, and should fancy getting the result against a Molynes team they beat 3-0 in the first round.
Waterhouse are favoured to get a win over struggling Harbour View. But The Stars of the East are long-time nemeses of the Drewsland-based outfit, and will no doubt be trying their best to deny the home team a second successive play-off berth.
However, after winning three games consecutively for the first time this season, and playing at home, the Marcel Gayle-coached team will be in a confident mood as they look to make it four straight.
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