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The second round of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) kicks off in earnest this afternoon, and just like on opening day, league leaders Mount Pleasant Football Academy and Portmore United will highlight the day’s fixtures at Drax Hall, starting at 3 p.m.
In other games, Dunbeholden play Arnett at Dunbeholden at 3 p.m., Chapelton take on Harbour View at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex at 3 p.m., Racing entertain Waterhouse FC at Ferdie Neita Park at 3 p.m., while in the Stadium East doubleheader, Molynes United FC play Tivoli Gardens at 3 p.m. and Cavalier Soccer Club oppose Humble Lion at 5:30 p.m.
Mount Pleasant lead the league on 28 points, one point more than Arnett and two more than MoBay United and Waterhouse. Cavalier are fifth with 23 points and Portmore sixth on 22 points, to round off the top six.
For the Drax Hall fixture, both teams come into the game with contrasting form. Over the last six games Mount Pleasant have been playing their best football, notching five wins. Their only blemish came in a 1-1 draw with Chapelton Maroons. However, they have scored 21 goals during the period, with just three conceded.
On the other hand, Portmore, who were flying midway the first round with six wins from seven games, have gone winless in their last four, which include three draws and a loss, with four goal for and five against.
In the teams’ first meeting, Mount Pleasant humbled the home team 2-0.
DIFFERENT GAME
However, Mount Pleasant’s sporting director Paul Christie said this will be a different game and a tougher match, and that if his team thinks otherwise it could be to their own detriment.
“That (first) game was a long time ago. Portmore have improved and even went on a six-game winning streak. So if we make that mistake and believe that it is the said team that is coming, it will be problems,” Christie said.
“We expect quality football and a competitive spirit from the Portmore team and we are prepared to give as much as we get and live with the result.”
Christie added that his team is looking forward to the challenge from a worthy opponent.
“Portmore are always a formidable opponent. They are the seven-time champions and they are to be respected,” he said. “But the truth of the matter is we fear no one and we are trying to do things the Mount Pleasant way.
“Things can improve and we know that there is still a lot of work to be done. We know we will have some glitches but we are finding our chemistry as we go along and we will do our best for the Mount Pleasant fans.
“We hope to play some entertaining football and at the end of the day get a favourable result,” Christie said
After some much-needed rest and reflection, Rodolph Austin will be hoping his Portmore team can rediscover their early first-round form, which will be vital if they are to get a result from the match.
At Dunbeholden, Arnett will look to rebound from their 2-1 defeat to Cavalier, after they lost for the first time in seven matches.
Even though Dunbeholden have seen an uptick in results since the appointment of Byjeon Thomas as head coach, they have only won once in the last six outings and will find it difficult against an in-form Arnett.
Waterhouse will start as big favourites against 10th-place Racing United (13 points), as will Cavalier in their match against second from bottom Humble Lion (10 points).
Meanwhile, after a first win in nine games, 11th-place Chapelton Maroons will aim for a second successive win against 12th-place Harbour View (12 points) which last won a match seven games ago.
The game between eighth-place Tivoli (13) and last-place Molynes (10) can go either way, with both teams posting two wins from their last five games.
livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com
TODAY’S MATCHES
3 p.m. Mount Pleasant vs Portmore at Drax Hall
3 p.m. Dunbeholden vs Arnett at Dunbeholden
3 p.m. Chapelton vs Harbour View at Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex
3 p.m. Racing vs Waterhouse at Ferdi Neita Park
3 p.m. Molynes vs Tivoli at Stadium East
5:30 p.m. Cavalier vs Humble Lion at Stadium East
MONDAY’S MATCH
7:45 p.m. Montego Bay United vs Vere United at Montego Bay Sports Complex
English (US) ·