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Now or never for d’Cup hopefuls
October 17, 2025
AS THE final-round battle of the ISSA daCosta Cup second round heats up, teams trying to wiggle their way into the round of 16 will either leave victorious or devastated.
Nine teams have a chance to punch their ticket, to join the seven who have already qualified.
In Group 8, eyes will be on the matchup between last year's finalists McGrath High and William Knibb Memorial at Dinthill Technical High School's playing field at 3 p.m.
Underdogs William Knibb will look not only to advance, but also to become group winners.
Clarendon-based McGrath High, who have already advanced and will be having somewhat of a home advantage, will make things challenging for William Knibb.
Head coach of William Knibb, Dewight Jeremiah, said with the underdog status reducing pressure, he has encouraged his team to focus on their performance rather than the outcome.
"As a young team, they go in as underdogs pretty much in every game that they played in this second round and one or two in the first. Many thought that we wouldn't make it this far or in this position with a game to go, with their destiny in their own hands," Jeremiah told STAR Sports.
"We continue to tell them, it is in our hands, we just need to go and perform. We just have to apply what we think would be best to give us a favourable result against McGrath," added Jeremiah.
On Wednesday, William Knibb were held to a 2-2 draw against Morant Bay, while McGrath clipped Central 2-1.
McGrath are atop the group on six points from two wins, while William Knibb sit on four points in second with one win and a draw. Morant Bay have one point from a loss and a draw and already eliminated Central have lost two games.
A draw for William Knibb would be enough for them to move on to the next round. Morant Bay will have to make a Herculean effort against Central, to win by many goals for a chance to edge out William Knibb because of the goal difference situation.
TOUGH TASK
In the west, many-time champions Rusea's will have a tough task when they face a scorching Ocho Rios High at Collin Miller Sports Complex in Hanover at 2:30 p.m.
The Paul 'Tegat' Davis-coached Rusea's are coming into the game with one win and loss, which puts them on the verge of elimination. They know that anything but three points could leave Maggotty High and Ocho Rios as teams to move on from the second round.
With home advantage, Rusea's will need to be firing on all cylinders, particularly from strikers Omarion Jemison and Cory Palmer, to give themselves a fighting chance against the unbeaten Ocho Rios team.
Rusea's, who lost against Maggotty and won against Petersfield, are on three points, tied with Maggotty, with Rusea's ahead with a two-goal difference.
Maggotty, who beat Rusea's last Saturday with a 2-1 win, will face an already eliminated Petersfield High.
After their first defeat this season, against Frome Technical on Wednesday, another former champion Cornwall College sit on the verge of elimination.
Cornwall will need the maturity of Nickane Brown to help secure the three points to keep their season alive when they go up against an already eliminated Cedric Titus at Irwin High's playing field.
Cedric Titus' season ended with a thrilling 4-6 defeat against Kemps Hill High, who are also in 'hot water'. Cornwall and Kemps Hill are tied on three points, with Cornwall ahead by superior goal difference.
Frome, who are atop the group with six points, will meet Kemps Hill at Foga Road High in Clarendon.
