Portmore win

Richard Bryan, Gleaner Writer

Steven Morrissey made the most of the one clear chance Portmore had at Brancourt by scoring to help his team defeat the home side, Sporting Central Academy 1-0, in their Digicel Premier League game yesterday.

Even then, it was not one they truly created, as it was an opportunistic chance handed to them, but expertly converted by Morrissey, the lone attacking threat from the visitors.

Following a savvy string of passes that had their spectators singing and the visitors in retreat, Sporting earned a corner in the 40th minute.

However, their attempted short corner went amiss, as Portmore got it clear enough for the fleet-footed Morrissey to run at the Sporting defenders, who had strayed too forward.

Goalkeeper Triston Huntley was forced to advance and even he looked forlorn as Morrissey's kick was deflected into goal.

The goal bore evidence of Sporting's poor balance between attacking exuberance and the need to be always keen defensively.

Despite Sporting's overwhelming dominance again in the second half, the one goal dificit seemed a mountain to get over. Goalkeeper Duwayne Kerr produced two outstanding stops and when he was finally beaten, defender Ricardo Harriott cleared a seemingly 'sure' one off the line.

Sporting were also unlucky as burly striker Onike Ford's thunderous 20-yard free kick rebounded powerfully off the crossbar.

Winning coach Linval Dixon said the way his team allowed Sporting to play was deliberate, as the plan was always to punish them on the counter.

"We knew they would have a lot of possession, but where they were having it, it was not hurting us. Our plan was to soak up the pressure and my team showed a lot of patience and discipline defensively."

The win kept Portmore atop the standings as they now have 13 points, six more than Sporting which started the day in sixth position.