A new name will be written on the ISSA Manning Cup trophy after Mona High and Hydel High won their respective semi-final games played at Sabina Park on Friday.
Mona High booked their first ever spot after beating St George’s College 2-1 in the first game before Hydel High nipped Kingston College 5-4 on penalties after giving up a 2-0 win and had to settle for a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Tajarie Lee who played for Kingston College last season, bit the hands that formerly fed him as it was his save in the third round of the penalties that made the difference for Hydel.
It is the first time since the 2001 season that two teams that had never won the title, will meet in the final and the first time since the 2006 season that a team other than Jamaica College, St George’s College or Kingston College will win.
Hydel who lost points to KC after beating them in the first round, raced to a 2-0 lead with goals from Keyanni Jackson in the third minute and Omario Henry in the 23rd minute.
They however committed the cardinal sin of taking their feet off the gas and allowed KC back in the game as Damaine Smith on the 50th minute and Alex Hislop in the 70th minute brought the scores back level.
Hydel’s players kept their heads and scored all five kicks in the shootout but Lee got his hand’s to Kimani Reece’s attempt and give his team the edge and qualified for their second Manning Cup final and first since 2012.
In the first game, Mona High ended St George’s College’s season with back to back losses.
Romarion Thomas gave Mona High the lead in the 39th minute but St George’s responded three minutes later when Zabir Taylor’s shot beat Mona’s goalkeeper Akeem Bernard, hitting him on the glove as it dipped just under the cross bar.
Denzel McKenzie got the winner for Mona in the 68th minute.
Photo Credit: McNamee Sports Media
