It’s ‘as you were’ in opening JPL clashes

The opening weekend of the 2020-21 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) season will see matchups identical to how the teams started the 2019/20 campaign, which ended abruptly because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The truncated season, which will run from June 26 to September 26, will open with Molynes United again taking on reigning champions Portmore United.

Molynes, who were promoted to the JPL in 2019, started their debut season against the Ricardo Gardner-coached Portmore and caused the first upset of the 2019/20 campaign, with a 3-0 win on September 2. The victory was the start of the promoted club’s six-match winning streak under then head coach Lijasu Simms, before poor results led to his resignation in November.

Mount Pleasant, who at the cancellation of the 2019/20 season were in the top two of the league, will begin their campaign against Harbour View FC, similar to how they started last season.

Harbour View won that matchup 2-1, a result which ended up being the last game for then Mount Pleasant head coach Donovan Duckie, who was sacked following the game.

HOPING FOR A WIN

Cavalier, who started their season with a win against Dunbeholden in 2019, will hope to have similar fortunes when the two once again start their seasons by facing each other. At the time of the cancellation of the season, Dunbeholden were in sixth place and in the play-off positions, while Cavalier were in eight place, but still in hunt for the top six.

UWI FC, who were heading towards relegation last season, will face Tivoli Gardens, who they defeated 4-0 in their opening match last season. After a difficult start to the season, Tivoli would go on to have a surge in 2020 on a string of wins which vaulted them into the top six.

Meanwhile, Arnett Gardens will again face Humble Lion, and Waterhouse, who ended the last campaign in second spot, will play Vere United, who were also on the verge of relegation.

Because of the previous season’s cancellation, this year’s competition will be held with the same 12 teams that started the 2019/20 season, with no relegation to take place.

There will be only one round of matches this season for all 12 teams, after which those who finished seventh to 12th will play additional games to determine placings, while those who finish third to sixth will play additional fixtures to determine two of the four play-off teams.

The top two teams will automatically qualify for the play-offs.

All matches this season will take place without spectators and in three locations – the National Stadium, Stadium East and the JFF/UWI Captain Horace Burrell Centre of Excellence.

OPENING FIXTURES:

• Molynes United vs Portmore

• UWI FC vs Tivoli Gardens

• Mount Pleasant vs Harbour View

• Cavalier vs Dunbeholden

• Waterhouse vs Vere United

• Humble Lion vs Arnett Gardens