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Montego Bay United’s Deverow McKenzie (proper) performs a cross earlier than MT Nice FA’s Kimoni Bailey can get to him of their JPL second-round recreation performed on the Montego Bay Sports activities Complicated on February twenty fourth. The sport led to a 1-1 draw. (Photograph: Paul Reid)
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Former champions Tivoli Gardens and Waterhouse FC will hope to bolster their possibilities of getting a play-off spot after they tackle Harbour View FC and Portmore United, respectively, within the third spherical of the Jamaica Premier League on Sunday.
With 4 of the six spots already secured and defending champions Cavalier SC mathematically needing solely some extent from their remaining 4 video games to advance, the race is between the 2 Kingston-based groups for the remaining spots.
On the different finish of the tables, the race in opposition to relegation is much more intense, with 5 groups separated by one level, making an attempt to keep away from becoming a member of Vere United within the Jamaica Soccer Federation Championships subsequent season.
Waterhouse FC, who at present occupy sixth place on 52 factors, can be in search of back-to-back wins over fourth-placed and qualifiers Portmore United after they meet at Ferdie Neita Complicated.
Just one purpose has been scored throughout the earlier two video games between the 2 this season — Waterhouse FC’s 1-0 win within the second spherical after that they had performed out a 0-0 draw within the first spherical assembly.
Waterhouse FC, who solely clinched sixth place on the ultimate day final season, are unbeaten of their final six video games, and have scored simply 40 targets in 36 video games, the least among the many prime seven groups within the league.
On Sunday, they face the second-best defence, a minimum of on paper, as Portmore have solely given up 22 targets all yr, second solely to leaders and semi-final qualifiers Mt Nice FA.
Tivoli Gardens are some extent behind Waterhouse and can hope to get the higher of Harbour View, who’re winless of their final three video games and are some extent above the drop zone themselves, regardless of being in ninth place.
Tivoli Gardens are on a late-season rally of their very own, unbeaten of their final 9 and could possibly be in a play-off spot Sunday if they will lengthen their unbeaten run.
The primary versus second assembly between Mt Nice FA and Montego Bay United must be the function recreation, however with each pretty safe of their positions, it might ease a few of the competitiveness from the sport.
Mt Nice FA have safe the highest place within the factors tables with 84 factors and have allowed only a solitary purpose of their final six video games, 5 wins and a draw, whereas Montego Bay United are in second place on 72 factors, 5 away from third positioned Arnett Gardens and seems properly set to complete second and safe an automated semi-final spot.
After their gallant chase for a play-off spot ended after a 3rd straight loss on Thursday, Racing United may have little to play for, with their place within the league for subsequent season secured, however they may nonetheless play an element in Molynes United’s destiny.
Molynes United are subsequent to final however are 9 factors higher than last-placed Vere United and nonetheless just a few factors from security, and a win might swing their fortunes.
Molynes United are coming off a win in opposition to Dunbeholden FC and had crushed Racing United of their first spherical recreation, however then misplaced by a detailed 3-2 margin within the second spherical.
One level separates Dunbeholden FC and Humble Lion, and it might be a superb guess that neither workforce would accept a draw on Sunday at Effortville when a win could possibly be the distinction between staying within the league for an additional yr and taking place to the championships.
— Paul Reid
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