daCosta Cup: Tough task for Rusea’s

WITH the curtain closing on the second round of the ISSA daCosta Cup competition today, two former champions in the west are in the hot seat as they try to punch their tickets to the round-of-16.

Sixteen games are set with seven teams already advanced, waiting on nine to join the qualifying party.

Football lovers will have their eyes locked in on a tough matchup with Group 2’s Rusea’s High who are on the verge of elimination and Ocho Rios High at Collin Miller Sports Complex in Hanover at 2:30 p.m.

Former champions Rusea’s will go into the game with one win and one loss. Three points are crucial for Rusea’s as anything less could ensure that Ocho Rios and Maggotty High advance into second round. Maggotty will face the group’s cellar team Petersfield High and are tipped to win.

According to Rusea’s coach Paul ‘Tegat’ Davis, the team is aware that they must win.

“In the game against Maggotty, we gave away two stupid and foolish penalties. This is what has put us in the situation we are in now,” said Davis.

“You cannot work on penalties because you won’t know when the referee will give you one or the players will have a handball,” added Davis.

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.

Cornwall College will face an already eliminated Cedric Titus High at Cornwall at 3 p.m. and should advance from Group 1.

Former champions Cornwall tasted defeat for the first time this season when they were clipped 2-1 by Frome Technical on Wednesday but should be too good for lowly Cedric Titus.

The Hector Wright-coached Cornwall will need to put a stop to Cedric Titus’s scoring machine Terron Eccleston to secure three points. Eccleston’s four goals went in vain on Wednesday as his school lost 6-4 to Kemps Hill. Kemps Hill and Cornwall are tied on three points with the latter ahead with a superior goal difference. Frome, who are atop the group with six points, will meet Kemps Hill at Foga Road High in Clarendon.

Today’s matches

Cornwall College vs Cedric Titus at Cornwall – 3 p.m.

Kemps Hill vs Frome at Foga Road High – 3 p.m.

Maggotty vs Petersfield at STETHS – 2:30 p.m.

STETHS vs Maldon at STETHS – 4:30 p.m.

Rusea’s vs Ocho Rios at Collin Miller Sports Complex – 2:30 p.m.

Manchester vs Glenmuir at Manchester – 3 p.m.

Clarendon College vs Port Antonio at Clarendon – 3 p.m.

McGrath vs William Knibb at Dinthill – 3 p.m.

Garvey Maceo vs Paul Bogle High at Garvey Maceo – 3 p.m.

Morant Bay vs Central at York Oval – 3 p.m.

Belair vs B.B. Coke at Brooks Park –1 p.m.

Knox College vs Ferncourt at Brooks Park – 3:15 p.m.

Old Harbour vs Titchfield at Wembley Centre of Excellence – 3 p.m.

Manning’s vs Christiana at Manning’s – 3 p.m.

St Mary High vs Alphansus Davis High at Highgate – 3 p.m.

York Castle vs Dinthill at Noranda Sports Complex – 3 p.m.