New champions will be crowned for a fifth straight year after Kingston College’s reign as ISSA Champions Cup all-island KO champions ended in the first round after they were beaten by St Elizabeth Technical on the opening night at Sabina Park in Kingston.
STETHS who were beaten 3-0 in the final last year by KC won 6-5 in sudden death penalties and joined St Georges College as the first quarterfinalists after Georges beat Garvey Maceo 2-0 in the first game.
Kingston College came back from a goal down to tie up the scores at 1-1 and even five penalties they were still tied at 3-3 forcing sudden death.
It appeared KC overlooked the STETHS team and started a weakened team and paid the ultimate penalty, knocked out in the first round.
Kevaun Garwood gave STETHS the lead after 28 minutes as the daCosta Cup team shook off a lazy start and led at halftime.
Minutes, after he came on in the second half Ugandan Aryamanya Rodgers, was fouled on the edge of the 18 yards box and Jamari Morrison curled a brilliant left-footed freekick high into the STETHS goal beating goalkeeper Devonte Clarke.
As per the rules, at the end of regulation time with the scores tied at 1-1, they went directly to penalties.
With the scored tied at 3-3 STETHS’ Tajae Palmer stepped up to take the kick that would win the game but hit the ball high and wide handing the Manning Cup team a lifeline.
Clarke saved KC’s eighth attempt as Davian Brown kept his nerves and scored the winner.
In the first game, Emelio Rouseau in the first minute and Damani Harris in the 30th minute scored for St Georges College over Garvey Maceo High who lost their last two games of the season after winning the first 13.
Garvey Maceo was sailing on, winning their first 13 games, conceding just two goals but lost to Cornwall College 3-2 in the quarterfinals of the daCosta Cup last week before crashing out of the season on Friday with a loss to St Georges College.
