Whitmore unimpressed with Mount Pleasant's penalty shootout win

Mount Pleasant Academy have secured a place in the Popeyes Challenge Cup semi-finals but head coach Theodore 'Tappa' Whitmore was less than impressed with his team's overall showing in their penalty shootout win on Wednesday.

  Mount Pleasant were forced to dig deep to defeat a young Chapelton Maroons team 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 stalemate at the Drax Hall Sports Complex in St Ann.

“I think, once you put on the Mount Pleasant shirt, you are supposed to be representing, and we didn't do that this afternoon. I think we didn't contribute much to the game,” Whitmore said, while noting it was a difficult game.

“Credit must be given to the opponents for their spirited fight," Whitmore added.

In an evenly contested game, Chapelton Maroons' Damoi Whitfield opened the scoring in the sixth minute to give his team an early lead. Then, in the 32nd minute, Mount Pleasant’s Fitzroy Cummings equalised.

Just before half-time, Chapelton Maroons' Jordon Britto and coach Ricardo Martin were both shown red cards while Mount Pleasant’s Jabarie Howell and Chapelton Maroons' Osani Ricketts were shown cards as both teams pushed for the advantage.

 Mount Pleasant, one of the favourites to lift the trophy, struggled to impose themselves against a fearless Chapelton team in the second half as underdogs produced an energetic display.

After regulation time ended 1-1, Mount Pleasant showed greater composure from the penalty spot to advance 4-2 and keep their hopes of lifting the Popeyes Challenge Cup alive.

Kyle Butler, coach of Chapelton Maroons, praised his young charges for their resilience and courage against one of Jamaica's football powerhouses, insisting the experience will serve them well going forward.

“I thought we played extremely well. The average age of that team was probably 19 years old, and the boys, most of them came from the Phoenix Academy from six years up. We're very proud of the discipline, the talent they showed and  their maturity," said Butler, who believed his team outperformed their opponents.

“I think the referee decided the game by a simple mistake with the red card, but very proud of our boys," Butler added.

Also advancing to the semi-finals were Montego Bay United (MBU), Molynes United and Jamaica Defence Force (JDF). MBU clipped 2026 Jamaica Premier League champions Portmore United 1-0, Molynes rallied to a 2-1 win over Tru Juice FC and JDF snatched a 5-3 win on penalties against Arnett Gardens after a 0-0 draw in regulation.

The semi-finals will be played tomorrow. MBU will face Molynes at 6 p.m. before Mount Pleasant oppose  JDF at 8:30 p.m. at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex.