ALL-JAMAICA FINAL LOOMS - Portmore United join Mt Pleasant in Caribbean Cup final

Before a ball is kicked in the Concacaf Caribbean Cup final, Jamaica can already lay claim to being kings of the region for a third consecutive year after Portmore United secured a 4-3 aggregate victory in their semi-final tie last night at Sabina Park.

The result, achieved despite a 2-1 loss on the night, also means Jamaica will have two teams in the Concacaf Champions Cup, with both Caribbean Cup finalists earning qualification. Portmore won the opening leg 3-1.

The Caribbean Cup final, a two-leg affair between the Jamaican clubs, is scheduled for December 1 and 5.

The result marks the first time two Jamaican teams have reached the final since 2004, when the competition was known as the Caribbean Club Championship. On that occasion, Harbour View and Tivoli Gardens contested the title.

The winners of December’s final will earn a bye to the Round of 16 of next year’s Concacaf Champions Cup, while the runners-up and third-place team will enter the competition in the first round.

The official draw for the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup will take place on December 21.

Portmore United were out of the blocks quickly, with Tedj Bryan opening the scoring in the 21st minute.

However, Violette were always going to be competitive and remained in the contest until the 73rd minute, when the Haitians drew level through Maxime Jeanty.

The visitors continued to make things difficult for Portmore and went ahead in the 87th minute through Roberto Jean.

Despite a frantic finish, there was no joy for the Violette outfit.

Violette still have a chance to qualify for the Concacaf Champions Cup if they can defeat Trinidad and Tobago’s Club Sando in the Caribbean Cup third-place playoff.

After seeing his team struggle to close out a game they had been leading comfortably with 25 minutes remaining, Portmore coach Rodolph Austin was left seething despite the aggregate victory.

“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.

Violette coach Rony Atimmy was philosophical about the defeat.

“Its 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.

Atimmy also lamented the loss of home advantage because of instability in Haiti, further exacerbated by political differences between the country and the Dominican Republic, which have made it impossible for his team to play matches in their neighbour’s territory.

“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.”