Brown’s late finish hands MBU three points
Published:Tuesday | October 1, 2024 | 12:12 AMOrane Buchanan/Staff Reporter
A 90TH-MINUTE strike from Montego Bay United (MBU) substitute Deonjay Brown proved decisive in his side’s 1-0 win over promoted Chapelton Maroons at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex yesterday.
In a game that saw chances few and far between, MBU came close in the 29th minute as striker Brian Brown took on a host of Chapelton Maroons defenders but only managed to clip his shot over the bar.
As both teams tried to nullify any meaningful offensive threat, the game’s next goalscoring chance came in the 41st minute when Chapelton’s Shanoi Evans found space inside the box but could only watch as MBU custodian Aaron Enell’s outstretched boot deny the goal-bound effort.
The second half began similarly to the first with both teams struggling to break each other down.
Chapelton would go on to rue not taking a chance that fell to Javel Ellis, who pounced on a loose ball but found Enell, again in the way.
MBU’s new signing Shaneil Thomas, in the 69th minute, came close but his effort was comfortably handled by goalkeeper William Vieira.
Luck would eventually run out for the Oneil Thompson-coached Chapelton in the dying embers of the game as Browns’ right-footed strike managed to sneak under the arms of Vieira and trickle over the line, giving his team all three points.
Winning coach Rodolfo Zapata said he was pleased with the way the team managed to grind out a victory.
“We played how a big club should play. Everybody involved has a winning mentality and that is what I want from Montego Bay United and the boys represented on the field. This isn’t a 100-metre sprint but a marathon, so it’s step by step and one game at a time,” said Zapata.
Thompson explained that a lapse in concentration from his defensive unit denied his team a point from the game.
“I think we lapsed a little which cost us at the end. I think we defended well throughout the game as we were very organised but as defenders, you have to play for 90-plus minutes. We just have to get the guys to concentrate for longer.”