MoBay, Racing ready for monster clash
Published:Sunday | October 19, 2025 | 12:13 AMLivingston Scott - Gleaner Writer
THE TOP two teams in the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) go head-to-head today, as leaders Montego Bay United entertain Racing United at the Catherine Hall Sports Complex, starting at 7 p.m.
In other matches, Chapelton play Molynes at Turners Oval at 3 p.m.
Spanish Town Police take on Cavalier in the opening game of a double-header at Drewsland at 3 p.m., while Dunbeholden tackle Waterhouse in the second encounter at the venue at 5:30 p.m.
MoBay, with six wins and a draw from their seven matches, sit atop the standings with 19 points, four clear of Racing, who only lead Portmore United on goal difference.
In their last game against Molynes, MoBay put on a class performance under very difficult conditions to come away with a 2-0 win.
However, coach Xavier Gilbert is not getting carried away with their impressive early form, and is expecting one of his toughest games this season.
“The next couple of games are going to be tough. We have Racing and then Cavalier. Two tough oppositions. So we will prepare. Assess ourselves. Assess the opposition and plan accordingly.
“It’s still early days. There are a lot of games to play. But we have to get the players in that mindset to believe,” he said
After three straight wins, Gilbert is confident in his team’s ability to get the three points.
“We have eight different goalscorers. Jourdain [Fletcher] and [Dwight] Merrick are leading in terms of scoring goals for us. I don’t think we struggle to score goals. So we just have to keep working and, hopefully, what we are doing will keep us atop of the table,” he added.
Like MoBay, Racing have been finding goals all over the pitch, with seven different players on the scoresheet this term.
Although both teams hold identical goal differences of +10, MoBay have scored more (18) goals but have also conceded more (8). Racing have 14 goals but have a much tighter defence. Led by Marcovich Brown, the defence has only leaked four goals.
In-form players
The two teams also boast some of the more in-form players this season, with captain Owayne Gordon, Fletcher, Merrick, Timar Lewis, and Brazilian midfielder Lucas Lima all having an excellent season for the St James club.
However, the irrepressible Nicklye Ellis, Tajay Grant, Giovanni Cunningham and Javaughn Cole are also in a rich vein of form for Racing.
The match-ups mean Racing coach Anthony Patrick anticipates their toughest test to date.
“We are looking for a very difficult one on Sunday against MoBay, in MoBay. So the objective was to keep the ball (last Sunday). To see how long we can possess the football and close off the game very strong.
“We start (the season) on the right footing, and it’s very important to start on the right footing. So we want to keep the momentum going,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chapelton, who have not won in five games, including four losses, will see their game against Molynes as the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways.
However, Molynes’ five draws in eight games suggests they are no walkovers.
At Drewsland, Cavalier and Waterhouse will start favourites against Spanish Town Police and Dunbeholden, respectively.
Although Cavalier is far from the team everyone knows, they should still be too good for the Police, who have had six losses in eight tries.
The Dunbeholden against Waterhouse game will be much closer, as the latter have shown they are a very competitive team.
However, it will be most interesting to see Waterhouse coach Marcel Gayle match up against his former assistant, Damion Gordon, now in charge of Dunbeholden.