Brilliant strike against Mt Pleasant puts Racing second

Caribbean Champions Mount Pleasant Football Academy had their momentum in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) slowed by Racing United, who delivered a smash and grab at the Ferdi Neita Park in the absence of coach Anthony Patrick yesterday.

Patrick, who was at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex, was overseeing St Catherine High School’s 3-2 win over Kingston College in the Walker Cup semi-finals and missed substitute Damion Herrera’s 90+3-minute time-added strike.

This is only the second loss for Mount Pleasant in the JPL. Though they have only played nine games, most teams have played 12; Mount Pleasant have already climbed to fourth in the standings on 16 points.

Above them, Racing have leapfrogged King-for-a-day Portmore United, who after Sunday’s loss to Mount Pleasant, are now third on 24.

Racing climbed a point above them to go into this weekend’s round of fixtures on 25.

Montego Bay United, despite a less-than-ideal restart, are still the league leaders with 26 points, falling to second last weekend, but rebounding with a 1-0 win over the always dangerous Arnett Gardens on Monday.

Racing’s Tajay Grant, the lone striker on the day for Racing, played a one-time pass back to his midfield off his chest; after some seemingly innocuous passes from left to right, Herrera, with space in front him, pushed forward before hitting a fierce drive.

The shot for the new signing at Racing, left the diving Tafari Chambers with absolutely no chance.

“That’s what you would call a classical game winner,” said Racing assistant coach Marvin Tate.

“That’s how you would want to win a game.”

According to Tate, who saw his team spend swathes of time on the back foot against a Mount Pleasant team more comfortable on the ball, said he knew once Racing kpt running, the visitors would have slowed down.

Mount Pleasant coach Theodre Whitmore said the loss was tough to take, given how dominant his team was throughout the 90 minutes.

“I think we did enough throughout the game, but we came up short not scoring this afternoon,” said the wiley coach.

Whitmore said he was pleased with the way his team defended, but thought they should have scored. Having not put the ball in the back of the net, then there is a price to pay.

“One moment of brilliance,” said Whitmore, before cediting Racing on the way they defended.

Still, Whitmore felt his team could have made better decisions in the attacking third.