Granville upset Premier League champion to KO title
MONTEGO BAY, St James — Granville United shocked Premier League champions Montego Bay United (MBU) to win the St James Football Association’s Captain’s Bakery and Grill Knock-Out 5-4 on penalties at Jarrett Park on Friday.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw after regulation and extra time, both goals coming from the penalty spot.
Granville United had already earned a place in next season’s Flow All-Island Champions Cup knock-out after making it to the finals given that Montego Bay United had an automatic spot as a Premier League club.
On Friday the teams were coming off contrasting results as two weeks prior Montego Bay United ended a nearly two-decade title drought in the Premier League after swamping Waterhouse 5-2 in the final, while Granville United were outplayed in the Western Confederation Super League finals by Reno FC.
Granville United paid special attention to Premier League final hat-trick hero Dino Williams, frustrating him to just a few shots at goal all night.
Ironically it was the otherwise sure-footed Fabian McCarthy, who had given MBU the lead, who missed in the shoot-out to give Granville United the edge.
McCarthy scored a penalty for Montego Bay United to give them the lead, but Damion Alexander came off the bench to level the scores in the 81st minute.
Davian Thelwell, Andrew Allen, Alexander, Otis Hudson and Odean Snow scored for Granville in the shoot-out, while Orlando McBayne, Omar Gordon, Dwayne Ambusly and Graeme Green scored for MBU.