Portmore survive late Violette fightback to seal 4-3 aggregate victory
Key Points(5)
- Portmore United secured an all-Jamaica Concacaf Caribbean Cup final Wednesday night, advancing 4-3 on aggregate over Haiti’s Violette AC despite suffering a 1-2 defeat in the second leg at Sabina Park.
- The result guarantees Jamaica two places in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, with both finalists earning qualification.
- It also gives the country a chance to extend its recent dominance of the regional competition to a third consecutive year.
- Portmore, who carried a 3-1 advantage from the first leg, will now face their Jamaican opponents Mount Pleasant Football Academy in a two-leg final scheduled for December 1 and 5.
- Portmore withstand late pressure Tedj Bryan put Portmore in front in the 21st minute, strengthening their grip on the tie.
Portmore United secured an all-Jamaica Concacaf Caribbean Cup final Wednesday night, advancing 4-3 on aggregate over Haiti’s Violette AC despite suffering a 1-2 defeat in the second leg at Sabina Park.
The result guarantees Jamaica two places in next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, with both finalists earning qualification. It also gives the country a chance to extend its recent dominance of the regional competition to a third consecutive year.
Portmore, who carried a 3-1 advantage from the first leg, will now face their Jamaican opponents Mount Pleasant Football Academy in a two-leg final scheduled for December 1 and 5.
Portmore withstand late pressure
Tedj Bryan put Portmore in front in the 21st minute, strengthening their grip on the tie. But Violette refused to surrender, with Maxime Jeanty leveling the match in the 73rd minute before Roberto Jean struck in the 87th to give the Haitian side a 2-1 win on the night.
Violette pushed for another goal in a frantic closing period, but Portmore held on to advance by a single goal on aggregate.
The final will be the first all-Jamaican Caribbean club championship showdown since 2004, when Harbour View defeated Tivoli Gardens in a contest staged under the Caribbean Club Championship banner.
The stakes extend beyond regional bragging rights. The December final’s winner will advance directly to the Round of 16 in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, while the runner-up and third-place finisher will enter in the first round. The official draw for the continental tournament is scheduled for December 21.
Violette remain in contention for a Champions Cup berth and can still qualify by defeating Trinidad and Tobago’s Club Sando in the third-place playoff.
Austin unhappy despite advancement
Portmore coach Rodolph Austin was relieved to reach the final but sharply criticized his team’s handling of the closing stages after allowing Violette to turn a comfortable position into a nervy finish.
“I am happy that we are there (final), but I am not happy with how we managed the game. I am not happy with that.
“We were well in control of the game. We were leading 3-1. Scored and were leading 4-1 and people just started doing stupid stuff on the pitch.
“The game became individualistic and that is not how my team operates. So, I am very disappointed with that,” he commented.
Austin’s frustration reflected a second leg in which Portmore struggled to maintain control despite entering the match with a substantial aggregate advantage.
Atimmy points to lost home advantage
Violette coach Rony Atimmy accepted the outcome as part of football’s unpredictable nature but also highlighted the difficulties his team faced throughout the competition while playing away from home.
“It’s part of the game. Some days you hit the post and it just don’t go in for you, but that’s the beauty of the game,” said Atimmy.
He argued that instability in Haiti, compounded by political tensions between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, had deprived Violette of the opportunity to play at home or use their neighboring country as an alternative venue.
“It would have been a different ball game had this game been played in Port-Au-Prince. The whole competition we play away from home. It would have made a big difference had we played at home.”
