Top things to know
- Tivoli Gardens beat Dunbeholden 3-0 at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex in the Jamaica Premier League.
- Odean Pennycooke's own goal in first-half stoppage time opened the scoring.
- Ajuma Johnson (90+4) and Barrington Pryce (90+6, penalty) sealed the win for the Andrew Price-coached team.
- Tivoli are fourth on 11 points, level with third-placed Waterhouse and fifth-placed Tru-Juice.
- Dunbeholden are 12th on three points, one point outside the relegation zone.
Tivoli Gardens responded to their first defeat of the Jamaica Premier League season with a workmanlike 3-0 victory over Dunbeholden at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex, a result that keeps the Andrew Price-coached side level on 11 points with third-placed Waterhouse and fifth-placed Tru-Juice.
The home side were gifted the opener in first-half stoppage time when former Tivoli player Odean Pennycooke inadvertently redirected the ball past his own advancing goalkeeper. Dunbeholden, fresh off their first win of the season against Molynes, had started positively and created good looks in the first period but failed to make them count.
After the break Tivoli had more control and the better opportunities, though Dunbeholden's Clive Wedderburn had the clearest chance of the second half and could not beat Nicholas Clarke from three yards. Ajuma Johnson broke behind the Dunbeholden defence in second-half injury time and hit a low shot across the goalkeeper to make it 2-0, and Barrington Pryce fired home from the spot two minutes later after a foul to complete the scoring.
"We had to fight for the 90-plus minutes, but it is good to see the resilience of the team," the Tivoli coach said. "Dunbeholden, coming off their first win, really wanted to come and get something out of the game, but we showed our resillience. Showed our character. We led 1-0, courtesy of an own goal, but our substitutions late in the second half killed off the game."
Dunbeholden coach Alex Thomas said the scoreline did not reflect the contest. "The scoreline doesn't reflect the game, but kudos to Tivoli, they did what they had to do to win the game. However, at this level you have to score your chances because goals win matches," he stated. Dunbeholden sit 12th in the table on three points, one point outside the relegation zone.