Character, Courage, and Class: Uprising Triumph in Blockbuster

The boys got our 2026 Presidents Cup campaign off to the perfect start with a superb back to the wall victory over East Enders FC!

The impressive Leon Whyle put us 1-0 to the good just ten minutes into the game when he beat his man on the edge of the box and unleashed an unstoppable left footed shot into the net! Kemari Gumbs then saw a well-controlled volley coming back off the foot of the post before East Enders went up the other end and forced our goalkeeper Shemor Browne into a good save which maintained our lead.

The only other real goalmouth action during a first period that was quiet, but which we dominated, came on 32 minutes when Leon had a powerful header superbly saved by Lawrence in the East Enders goal.

If the first half was sedate, then the second 45 minutes was anything but! Unfortunately, it got off to the worst possible start from an Uprising point of view when our left back, Dajaun Jacobs was injured whilst clearing the ball away for a corner in the 54th minute. From that corner, East Enders had a shot at goal which was blocked, but the referee deemed it to have been a handball! Our opponents got back on level terms by converting the spot kick despite the best efforts of Shemor.

Marcus Nicholson came on to replace Dajaun for his debut appearance, sadly it turned out to be a brief debut! Just six minutes after our opponents drew level, Marcus was adjudged to have brought down the East Enders striker whilst clean through on goal, despite our protests, the referee gave a straight red card!

With the odds stacked firmly against us, we retook the lead in the 76th minute when our other debutant of the night, Rushane Brooks beat his man on the edge of the box after receiving a good pass from Joel Orosco, Rushane then neatly slipped the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper for his first goal in an Uprising shirt!

A quiet five minutes followed our second goal before East Enders hit back with a fast counterattack on 81 minutes which ended with them levelling the game for a second time! It now looked like we would have to settle for a point. However, in keeping with a dramatic second 45 minutes, just five minutes from the end of regulation time, Kemari Gumbs swung in a corner from the left which was met by Leon Whyle, his header came back off the post and landed at the feet of Thierry Amorsinh who swept the ball home from close range to score what turned out to be the winner! Wild celebrations followed which capped off a brilliant game of football, and one where not only the players come out with a lot of credit, but also our Head Coach, Chavoi Gumbs for a tactical masterclass after we went down to ten men!

Uprising Line Up:

18) Shemor Browne, 2) Joel Orosco, 11) Nathaniel Gumbs, 31) Thierry Amorsinh, 5) Tre Gumbs, 7) Rushane Brooks, 13) Dajaun Jacobs, 16) Kemari Gumbs, 19) Leon Whyle, 24)Javis Jones ( c ), 10) Cardinae Rennie

Subs:

34) Marcus Nicholson, Kelley Fleming, 6) Denny Derrick, 8) Jordan Deans, 25) Frank-Quan Daniel

Report: Gareth Thomas – Uprising FC Media Officer