Portmore United start defence of JPL title

Defending champions Portmore United (PMU) will make their first appearance in the 2026-27 Jamaica Premier League (JPL) on Sunday, when they host Humble Lion FC at the Ferdie Neita Park. The game is set for kick-off at 3:30 pm. PMU missed the first two rounds of the competition to focus on their Concacaf Caribbean Club games and, after securing a place in the semi-finals, along with Mt Pleasant FA, can now turn their attention to the defence of their JPL title. Mt Pleasant will also be in action today against Dunbeholden FC. The St Ann-based club is seeking their first point after back-to-back losses to start the season while Cavalier FC will play their first game at their new venue, hosting Arnett Gardens at Turner’s Oval in Clarendon. PMU will be hoping to maintain their momentum from the Concacaf competition where they beat Cibao FC of the Dominican Republic 2-1 in the Dominican Republic, with former Reggae Boy Cory Burke scoring both goals. Burke and PMU will hope for a more productive season after he scored just three goals last season and should get off to a good start, facing a Humble Lion team still trying to find some form. The Clarendon club lost both of its games by an eight-goal aggregate. In contrast to their run in the Concacaf league, Mt Pleasant are off to their worst start in the JPL, failing to score a goal and have conceded five in their two games, sitting in the unfamiliar relegation spot. It took Mt Pleasant four games to concede five goals last season and six in the previous season. While it is unlikely there will be any panic in the camp with 37 more games to be played, there will be concerns and an urgency to start winning games. The Theodore Whitmore coached team will be without starting goalkeeper Shaquan Davis who is with the national team on Concacaf Nations League duties. Their biggest focus could be at the other end of the field where their expensively-assembled strike force is yet to start producing. Mt Pleasant have signed the last two golden boot winners, Warner Brown and Trayvone Reid and, along with Nicholas Nelson who scored 16 goals last season, they are expected to score freely. Meanwhile, Racing United which got off to a fast start will play Montego Bay United (MBU) in the first game of a double header at Drewsland stadium, with kick-off at 5:00pm. Despite a change of coach, Racing United will be hoping to match last season when they won their first three games. However, they face a MBU team that did not concede a goal in their two games played so far. Both teams will be without key players with Tajay Gayle who is serving a red card suspension out of the Racing team, while MBU’s first string goalkeeper Vino Barclett is away on national duties with the St Lucian team. In the second game, Waterhouse FC will be going after back-to-back wins when they take on Treasure Beach. Newcomers Tru-Juice FC who have taken four points from their first two games, will be away to Molynes United who are coming off a loss to Chapelton Maroons. Tru-Juice did not concede a goal in their two games against Mt Pleasant and MBU and will hope their defence will continue to be airtight. Daniel Roberts and Rodave Murray have scored two goals each so far and will be champing at the bit to go up against a Molynes team that have allowed two goals in each of their two games played so far. Cavalier FC have won their only game played so far and will take on an Arnett Gardens team that rebounded from an opening loss to beat Dunbeholden 3-0 last Monday. Cavalier FC have found goals hard to come by so far this season, including in the Concacaf competition where they were dumped out in the first round. Arnett Gardens have scored five goals in their two games played with Jamone Shepherd and Giovanni Taylor scoring two each and who are expected to lead the line today. Sunday’s Games: Tivoli Gardens vs Chapelton Maroons- Edward Seaga Complex 3:30pm Cavalier FC vs Arnett Gardens- Turner’s Oval 3:30pm Portmore United vs Humble Lion FC- Ferdie Neita Complex 3:30pm Dunbeholden FC vs Mt Pleasant FA- Dunbeholden Complex 3:30pm Molynes United vs Tru-Juice FC- Stadium East 3:30pm Racing United vs Montego Bay United- Drewsland stadium 5:00pm Waterhouse FC vs Treasure Beach- Drewsland stadium 8:00pm