Brown brace fires Portmore United to comeback win over Violette
Key Points(5)
- After falling behind to Jean-Fabrice Vedrine’s 38th-minute strike, Portmore responded through Javier Brown, who scored twice in the space of 13 minutes, before substitute Tedj Bryan delivered the decisive blow deep into stoppage time.
- Brown struck in the 62nd and 75th minutes to turn the contest around, while Bryan completed the victory in the 90th+5 minute, giving Portmore a two-goal cushion ahead of the return leg in the Dominican Republic on October 20.
- The result left Portmore with renewed confidence as they pursue the Caribbean Cup title, and Brown emphasized the importance of taking a lead into the second encounter.
- We really needed this win so it was really satisfying to come away with it on our home ground,” he said.
- “This result means a massive boost for us going into the second leg.
Portmore United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Haitian side Violette AC 3-1 in the first leg of their Concacaf Caribbean Cup semifinal at Sabina Park on Tuesday evening, handing their opponents their first defeat of the season and putting themselves in a strong position to reach the final.
After falling behind to Jean-Fabrice Vedrine’s 38th-minute strike, Portmore responded through Javier Brown, who scored twice in the space of 13 minutes, before substitute Tedj Bryan delivered the decisive blow deep into stoppage time.
Brown struck in the 62nd and 75th minutes to turn the contest around, while Bryan completed the victory in the 90th+5 minute, giving Portmore a two-goal cushion ahead of the return leg in the Dominican Republic on October 20.
The result left Portmore with renewed confidence as they pursue the Caribbean Cup title, and Brown emphasized the importance of taking a lead into the second encounter.
“It was great. We really needed this win so it was really satisfying to come away with it on our home ground,” he said.
“This result means a massive boost for us going into the second leg. We just need to keep focused, concentrate and just keep going.”
Portmore waste early openings
The Jamaican side set the pace in the opening stages, controlling possession and looking to impose themselves on the visitors.
Tarick Ximines came close to giving Portmore an early breakthrough after weaving past three defenders, but his attempt from just outside the penalty area rolled wide.
Violette gradually found their footing and threatened in the 20th minute when Elyvens Dejean drove forward and sent a dangerous ball across the penalty area. However, no teammate was positioned to capitalize.
Portmore continued to create opportunities, but their failure to convert proved costly. A defensive error sent Joshua Grant through on goal, only for the forward to squander the chance with the goalkeeper to beat.
Violette made the hosts pay in the 38th minute. Vedrine produced a moment of quality, curling an excellent finish into the top-right corner to give the Haitian side a 1-0 halftime lead.
Brown sparks the turnaround
Violette resumed aggressively and nearly doubled their advantage within a minute of the restart, Dejean striking the post with an effort that threatened to leave Portmore facing a steep uphill battle.
Portmore responded two minutes later when halftime substitute Bryan pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area, but his effort was blocked at the last moment.
The visitors appeared to have extended their lead when Clavens Exantus found the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
The breakthrough arrived with Brown capitalizing after Violette goalkeeper Gooly Elien failed to hold the initial shot. Brown was on hand to tap the loose ball into an unguarded net, bringing Portmore level at 1-1.
The equalizer shifted the momentum decisively, and the home side began to press with greater purpose.
Clinical finish puts Portmore ahead
Portmore completed the turnaround in the 75th minute through a superb finish from Brown.
Clayton Peck delivered a cross into the penalty area, and Brown met it with a first-time volley that flew into the far corner, completing his brace and giving the Jamaican club a 2-1 lead.
Violette attempted to respond, and Miche-Naider Chéry thought he had restored parity in the 80th minute. However, his effort was also disallowed for offside.
Portmore nearly added a third two minutes later, but Bryan saw his close-range attempt crash against the crossbar.
National representative Lamar Walker subsequently drove through midfield on a penetrating run and unleashed a low shot that missed the far post by inches.
Bryan delivers the final blow
With Violette pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Portmore found the space they needed to strengthen their advantage on the counterattack.
Bryan led the breakaway, rounded the goalkeeper and calmly finished into an empty net in the fifth minute of added time to seal a 3-1 victory.
The late goal was a significant reward for Portmore’s persistence after they had struggled to convert their first-half chances and fallen behind just before the interval.
The two-goal advantage gives the Jamaican side valuable breathing room, although the semifinal remains unfinished.
Dominican Republic awaits
Portmore will travel to the Estadio Cibao in the Dominican Republic for the second leg on October 20, carrying the confidence of a comeback victory and a potentially decisive advantage.
Brown’s two goals transformed the match, while Bryan’s stoppage-time finish ensured Portmore left Sabina Park in a stronger position than the scoreline had seemed likely to allow at halftime.
Violette, meanwhile, must recover from their first loss of the season and find a way to overturn the deficit if they are to keep their Caribbean Cup ambitions alive.
