Cavalier, Portmore United advance to Jamaica Premier League final

Defending champions Cavalier and Portmore United will contest the Red Stripe Jamaica Premier League final on Sunday after both clubs survived tense second-leg semi-finals at the National Stadium on Wednesday night.

Cavalier, led by Rudolph Speid, overturned their tie against Montego Bay United with a 2-0 victory on the night, moving through 2-1 on aggregate. Teenager Kimarly Scott brought Cavalier level in the contest when he scored in the 54th minute, forcing extra time after Montego Bay had carried a first-leg advantage.

Scott struck again in the 97th minute, giving Cavalier the two-goal cushion they needed to reach another league final. The result keeps Cavalier in position to chase a third consecutive title, a feat that would make them only the second team to win three or more Jamaica Premier League crowns in a row.

Speid said Cavalier had remained confident despite the deficit. “We never thought we were out of it,” he said, adding that the team believed it could find another route to victory. He also pointed to set pieces and the club’s togetherness as major factors in their run, saying the squad has built a winning mentality through training and shared responsibility.

Portmore United earned the other final spot by beating last season’s finalists Mount Pleasant FA 4-2 in their second leg, advancing 4-3 on aggregate. Portmore had trailed 1-0 from the first match, but Tarick Jimenez put them ahead in the 22nd minute before Ronaldo Robinson added a second in the 37th.

Mount Pleasant responded in the 62nd minute through Rhyme Edwards, making it 2-1 on the night and tying the aggregate score at 2-2. In extra time, Dustin Cohen scored for Portmore in the 102nd minute, before Jashawn Anglin converted a 108th-minute penalty to pull Mount Pleasant level again at 3-3 overall.

Chevaughn Brown then delivered Portmore’s decisive goal in the 112th minute, sealing a dramatic win. Coach Austin said he was pleased for his players, noting that several had never experienced a moment of that size. He said Portmore’s plan was to score first, as falling two goals behind in the tie would have made the task much harder.

The final is scheduled for Sunday at the National Stadium.