Mount Pleasant overcome Reid’s penalty miss to book Caribbean Cup final spot
Key Points(5)
- Defending champions Mount Pleasant Football Academy are one victory away from retaining their Concacaf Caribbean Cup crown after a composed second-half response secured a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago’s Club Sando at Sabina Park on Thursday night.
- Goals from Warner Brown and Nickalia Fuller delivered a 3-1 aggregate triumph in the semifinal, sending the St.
- Ann club into consecutive finals of the regional competition and guaranteeing Jamaica’s representatives a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
- Mount Pleasant will now await the winner of the delayed semifinal between Portmore United and Haiti’s Violette AC.
- Portmore hold a commanding 3-1 advantage heading into the second leg, scheduled for Sabina Park on October 28.
Defending champions Mount Pleasant Football Academy are one victory away from retaining their Concacaf Caribbean Cup crown after a composed second-half response secured a 2-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago’s Club Sando at Sabina Park on Thursday night.
Goals from Warner Brown and Nickalia Fuller delivered a 3-1 aggregate triumph in the semifinal, sending the St. Ann club into consecutive finals of the regional competition and guaranteeing Jamaica’s representatives a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Mount Pleasant will now await the winner of the delayed semifinal between Portmore United and Haiti’s Violette AC. Portmore hold a commanding 3-1 advantage heading into the second leg, scheduled for Sabina Park on October 28.
Reid’s penalty miss leaves Mount Pleasant waiting
The defending champions entered the return leg with the advantage after earning a 1-1 draw in Trinidad a week earlier. Their away goal proved decisive in giving them the edge before kickoff, but they had to work through a frustrating first half before taking control.
Mount Pleasant began brightly and threatened to break the deadlock in the 26th minute when Jalmaro Calvin found space just inside the penalty area. His effort, however, was kept out by Club Sando goalkeeper Teshaun Ragoo.
The hosts were handed a golden opportunity to move ahead 10 minutes later after Kyle Ming was fouled inside the box. Trayvone Reid stepped forward to take the penalty, repeating the slow, unorthodox approach that had characterized his attempt in the first leg.
Once again, Ragoo read the situation and made the save, denying Reid for the second time in the tie and leaving Mount Pleasant to search for another route through the visitors’ defense.
Club Sando gradually grew into the contest but struggled to turn its spells of possession into clear-cut scoring opportunities. The Trinidadians remained within reach, however, and the defending champions had yet to find the breakthrough they needed to put the tie beyond doubt.
Brown breaks the deadlock
Club Sando came out with greater purpose after the interval and briefly caught Mount Pleasant off guard. The Jamaican side responded before the visitors could capitalize, with Reid turning from penalty disappointment to provider.
In the 57th minute, Reid supplied Brown, who reacted quickly inside the penalty area, turned sharply and fired past Ragoo to give Mount Pleasant the lead on the night and strengthen their grip on the aggregate contest.
The goal shifted the momentum, but Club Sando had opportunities to drag themselves back into the match.
Three minutes later, a failure by Mount Pleasant goalkeeper Shaquan Davis to hold a ball created a dangerous opening. Luke Phillip, presented with a chance to equalize, sent his effort over the crossbar.
Davis was called into action again five minutes later when Jaron Pascal threatened from close range. The goalkeeper responded with a save from the Trinidadian attacker’s effort from approximately three yards, preserving Mount Pleasant’s advantage.
The missed chances proved costly as the visitors were unable to make their pressure count.
Fuller seals the deal in stoppage time
Mount Pleasant remained dangerous on the counterattack as the contest opened up. Brown nearly added a second after breaking down the wing, but his attempt across goal drifted beyond the far post.
Substitutes also helped sustain the hosts’ attacking threat. Devone Davis tested Ragoo with a powerful long-range effort, while Jahshaun Anglin sent a low shot narrowly wide as Mount Pleasant pressed for a second goal.
Club Sando continued to push late in the game, but the defending champions delivered the decisive blow in added time.
Fuller, who had been brought into the starting lineup in place of Brown according to the team’s matchday changes, found the net in the 90th minute plus three, firing past Ragoo from around 20 yards to confirm the 2-0 victory and extinguish any remaining hopes of a Club Sando comeback.
The late strike capped a disciplined second-half performance from Mount Pleasant, who recovered from Reid’s penalty miss and weathered several dangerous moments to complete the aggregate win.
Portmore or Violette next
Mount Pleasant’s attention now turns to the other semifinal as they prepare to discover their opponents in the final.
Portmore United are firmly in the driving seat after defeating Violette AC 3-1 in the first leg. The return match, rescheduled for October 28 at Sabina Park, will determine which club faces the defending champions for the Caribbean Cup title.
For Mount Pleasant, the immediate objective has been achieved: another regional final, another opportunity to lift the trophy, and qualification secured for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup.
