Montego Bay United Players waited for an hour along with referees, fans and media before eventually being told their Wray and Nephew Premier League playoff match against Tivoli Gardens was rescheduled due to lighting concerns.(Photo Garfield Robinson)
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Premier League playoff game between Montego Bay United and Tivoli Gardens at Sabina Park will continue on Friday at 6:00 pm at the same venue after defective lighting brought an abrupt end to the match on Thursday.
The rescheduled game will be followed by the Portmore United versus Cavalier SC at 8:30 pm, which was also initially scheduled for Thursday.
Only 35 minutes of action were possible when sections of the lights went out with the score at 0-0.
The organisers waited for almost an hour before calling off the game.
READ: Lighting issues force pause in JPL quarter-final matches
But before the lights went out, it was an evenly balanced encounter with Tivoli Gardens looking the more dangerous team and the more likely to score.
Not many chances were created in the first 35 minutes as both teams started cautiously, knowing that this was the first of two matches and wanted to give nothing away.
Montego Bay United got the first look at goal in the 18th minute, when Jourdaine Fletcher latched onto a Johan Weatherley cross, but his shot was charged down by Alton Lewis who got back well.
Then in the 26th minute in form Nickalla Fuller’s long-range effort went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Davonnie Burton.
Three minutes later, Fuller teed up Steve Clarke with a sumptuous cross but he failed to get a touch as the ball ran across the goalmouth.
Montego Bay United should start favourites, having beaten Tivoli Gardens twice and lost once in their three meetings this season.
But momentum is with Tivoli Gardens who only last week defeated Montego Bay United 2-1 and booked their playoff spot.
Montego Bay United Players waited for an hour along with referees, fans and media before eventually being told their Wray and Nephew Premier League playoff match against Tivoli Gardens was rescheduled due to lighting concerns.(Photo Garfield Robinson)
Referees waited along with fans and players for almost an hour before eventually being told the Wray and Nephew Premier League playoff match between MoBay United and Tivoli Gardens was rescheduled due to lighting concerns.(Photo Garfield Robinson)