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The blink/bmobile National Super League (NSL) title race blew open when Real Maracas defeated leaders bmobile Joe Public 1-0 win away from home on Wednesday.

Needing a win to secure the title with one match remaining, Joe Public conceded the only goal of the match in the 76th minute through the full-back, Steffon Pierre.

The loss has seen Joe Public’s title challenge put off until the final match day, next week when they challenge second place, Stokely Vale, which are a point behind in the standings.

The three points for Real Maracas, kept the team in the second tier-Super League for another season, as they avoided the drop.

Joe Public were without influential midfielder Andre Toussaint, who left the country to attend personal business as well as Jamel Lewis who was on a suspension.

Despite a niggling injury, top goal scorer Brent Antoine started the fixture, but was subsequently substituted at half-time, giving coach Dale Saunders limited options in attack. Real Maracas were under pressure for the first quarter of an hour.

However, spells of possession for either side were shared throughout the rest of the first-half and into the second-half interval. Clear cut chances were at a minimum for both teams on the day.

However, taking advantage of a rare set-piece opportunity with a quarter of an hour remining, Real Maracas pressed its defenders forward for a corner kick.

Akil Joseph swung in a cross, which was met by Pierre who headed easily past Joe Public stopper Jevon Borne.

Joe Public applied more pressure following the goal, but were unable to find an appropriate final product, as the team slumped to their second loss of the campaign.

They will need at least a draw in the upcoming fixture against Stokely Vale next Wednesday.

The last time the two teams met, Joe Public emerged 2-1 victors in the knock-out final against the same challengers, Stokely Vale, last month. Forward Brent Antoine scored a double for the winning team.

Antoine is hopeful to start in the fixture, while Toussaint is expected to return to the line-up. Jameel Lewis remains suspended for the deciding match.

Results

Sunday

Real Maracas 1 (Handel Manswell 48th) v WASA 1 (Shane Calderon 90th)

Monday

St Francois v Club Sando—Did not play

Stokely Vale 4 (Trevon James 2nd, 62nd, Krishawn Joseph 10th, Deon Thomas 37th) v West Side Super Starzs 1 (Kareem Freitas 36th)

Wednesday

WASA 5 (Joel Daniel 20th, 24th, 69th, Glen Walker 53rd, Richard Jones 48th) v Eagles United 4 (Bernard Mc Call 13th, Jamal Lucas 42nd, Ian James 63rd, Anthon Gill 81st)

Real Maracas 1 (Steffon Pierre 76th) v bmobile Joe Public 0

Standings

Team   Pld   W   D   L   F   A   Pts
Joe Public   17   10   5   2   30   17   35
Stokely Vale   17   10   4   3   35   19   34
WASA   17   8   5   4   32   18   29
Phoenix   17   7   4   6   28   20   25
Eagles   17   7   4   6   28   23   25
Club Sando   16   7   2   7   22   26   23
Super Starzs   17   7   1   9   20   26   23
Real Maracas   17   5   3   9   16   21   18
Defence Force   17   2   6   9   9   34   12
St Francois   16   2   4   10   16   32   10