Watch: Racing frustrate defending champs Cavalier with 1-1 stalemate

Defending champions Cavalier were held to a 1-1 draw by Racing United in the final match of Jamaica Premier League (JPL) matchday 18 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex on Monday night.

Two games against the newly promoted team have yielded just one point for the reigning champions.

Cavalier have lost only twice in 18 games this season, one of which was a 1-0 defeat at Ferdie Neita Park against Racing on November 20.

Two months later, Cavalier narrowly avoided a similar outcome as captain Richard King scored a crucial equaliser in the 77th minute. Racing United had taken the lead in the 27th minute through Tajay Grant and seemed on course to achieve an unlikely home-and-away double over Rudolph Speid’s team.

The result keeps Cavalier in fourth place on 32 points, trailing leaders Mount Pleasant FA (43 points), Montego Bay United, and Arnett Gardens, both on 37 points.

“We may have been a bit lucky to come away with a draw, but we could have taken all three points at the end as well. That’s just how the game goes,” Speid said. “I thought Racing would probably tire at some point, but we were flat, and the injury to Dwayne Atkinson didn’t help. We stepped up later in the game, but it wasn’t one of our better performances. Credit to Racing—they are a young team with high energy levels, and they pressed throughout the match.”

Racing United remain in 10th place with 16 points. Head coach Anthony Patrick praised his side’s effort but acknowledged the need for further improvement.

“I’m very pleased. It is just unfortunate that Cavalier got a goal back. We just have to focus on fixing some things and move on from there. The youngsters have been working hard, and they just need to learn from this and move on,” Patrick said.

Earlier at the same venue, Montego Bay United reclaimed second place with a 2-0 win over Molynes United. Second-half goals from Jourdain Fletcher (47th minute) and Shaniel Thomas (52nd minute) secured a bounce-back victory for Rodolfo Zapata’s side following their 1-0 defeat to Arnett Gardens last week.

In other matchday 18 results, Mount Pleasant FA solidified their top position with a 2-0 win over Arnett Gardens. Meanwhile, Waterhouse FC, Tivoli Gardens, Humble Lion, and Portmore United all recorded victories.

Matchday 18 Results

Sunday
Humble Lion FC 1, Chapelton Maroons 0
Tivoli Gardens FC 2, Dunbeholen FC 0
Vere-Phoenix United 0, Waterhouse FC 3
Mount Pleasant FA 2, Arnett Gardens FC 0
Portmore United FC 4, Harbour View FC 0

Monday
Molynes United FC 0, Montego Bay United 2
Cavalier SC 1, Racing United FC 1

Videos courtesy of SportsMax TV.