Under the bright lights of Kingston’s National Stadium at Independence Park and before a pulsating crowd, Mount Pleasant Football Academy sealed their first-ever regional crown on Tuesday evening, outlasting Universidad O&M of the Dominican Republic 3-2 on aggregate after a dramatic 2-2 result in the second leg of the Concacaf Caribbean Cup Final.
The triumph not only delivered Mt Pleasant’s maiden Caribbean title but also ensured a second consecutive championship for Jamaican clubs, following Cavalier’s success in the 2024 edition. As champions, Mt Pleasant now advance directly to the Round of 16 in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup.
Fireworks from the first whistle
Both teams opened with fearless intent, trading early blows in a free-flowing contest that never allowed the crowd a moment of stillness. Yet the match’s complexion shifted sharply in the 27th minute when O&M defender Junior Capellán received a straight red card after VAR review, for a heavy challenge on Kimoni Bailey.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the visitors refused to wilt.
Frantzety strikes on the stroke of the break
O&M nearly stole the lead moments before halftime when Jon Trincado produced an acrobatic strike inside the area, only for Mt Pleasant goalkeeper Tafari Chambers to answer with a stunning reflex save.
But the reprieve was short-lived. In first-half stoppage time, Herard Frantzety broke free behind the defense, seizing on Chambers’s slip to guide a deft lob into an open net. The 45th+5-minute finish gave O&M renewed belief and brought the aggregate score level.
Mt Pleasant roar back through the bench
The St Ann-based side stormed out for the second half with attacking purpose but met a disciplined O&M defensive block. The tide turned only after Head Coach Theodore Whitmore summoned second-half substitutes who reshaped the match.
A sweeping move in the 62nd minute saw Shaqueil Bradford slice through the right channel and unleash a low drive that was parried by goalkeeper Iraitz Gelbentzu. Raphael Intervil reacted quickest, slipping the ball square to Warner Brown, who tapped in from close range. Initially flagged offside, the goal was restored after a VAR review, bringing Mt Pleasant level on the night and back in front on aggregate.
O&M respond with grit and guile
Just seven minutes later, O&M reclaimed control. Frantzety, again central to the action, delivered a towering free kick into the box, where Julen Olasagasti rose above the pack and steered a looping header over the advancing Chambers.
Under the away-goals rule still used in this competition, O&M now held the advantage despite the aggregate tally being tied.
Magee’s late magic seals the crown
What followed was a siege of the O&M penalty area. Mt Pleasant pressed relentlessly, knowing one strike would rewrite the script. Their persistence paid off in the 87th minute when Intervil threaded a pass into Tyreek Magee just inside the box.
Magee, calm amid the chaos, took a measured touch before rifling a left-footed shot inside the near post, an emphatic finish that ultimately delivered the championship.
The closing minutes brought waves of pressure from the Dominican side, but Mt Pleasant’s defense held firm, securing a historic night for Jamaican football.
Champions of the Caribbean
The final whistle confirmed Mt Pleasant as the region’s new kings, completing a 3-2 aggregate triumph built on tactical adjustments, fearless substitutions, and a refusal to surrender when momentum turned. Both finalists have already booked their place in the 2026 Concacaf Champions Cup, but only Mt Pleasant depart with silverware, and a title etched into club history.
