Upbeat Tivoli look to turn back Portmore

Defending champions Portmore United should enjoy no home comforts when they return to the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL), that’s the view of Tivoli Gardens defender Jabeur Johnson.

Portmore United missed two weeks of competition to participate in the CONCACAF Champions League and were thumped 4-0 by Mexican club Cruz Azul for a 6-1 aggregate loss in their round of 16 encounter. Today, they host Tivoli Gardens who are sitting in seventh position, one behind sixth-place neighbours Arnett Gardens with an eye on displacing them from the top six play-off position.

Tivoli Gardens defeated leaders and beaten finalists for the last two years, Waterhouse, 4-3 last week and even led 3-0. This predictably lifted their confidence.

“The mood is a pretty good in the camp. We are feeling pretty motivated and are working for each other. We are going in the direction that we believe we should have been going in from the get-go,” the confident Johnson, who formerly represented Arnett Gardens said.

Reminded that they are playing the defending champions, Johnson brushed that aside with his own reminder.

“Remember, we played the leaders last week and pretty much dominated the game. It does not matter who we are playing, and that is the frame of mind that we will have going forward,” stated the former Dunoon Technical man.

Portmore United’s Rosario Harriott said his team has put the result and the hardships suffered against Cruz Azul behind him and are ready for Tivoli Gardens.

“Everyone is recovered and ready. We are good physically and in good spirits.

“We expect it to be a tough one but we have to go out there and do our best,” the towering defender said.

Even Chavany Willis and Ryan Wellington, who required medical attention in the Azteca, should be able to go if needed based on how they have operated since returning to the island on Wednesday night. Wellington suffered a cut under the eyed following a clash with his goalkeeper while Wills required oxygen. He was more interested in repelling the attack of Tivoli Gardens.

COMPETITIVE LEAGUE

“They are picking up some form as well so we really can’t afford to take them lightly. It is a competitive league and all the teams are fighting for something, but we have to make sure we play our best game and get the result we need. We have to start brightly as well,” added Harriott, who once played alongside his brother Rickardo in the Portmore backline.

In order for them to get that positive result they will have to score goals, and he is charging Rondee Smith, Ricardo Morris and young Rivaldo Mitchell with that responsibility.

In terms of their offensive weapons, Johnson would not give anything away choosing to say that there are one or two injury concerns, but that they are squad of depth and that anyone who takes the field can and will deliver for them.

At Royal Lakes, the fifth-place home team Dunbeholden should have the edge over ninth-place visitors Harbour View FC, while second-place Mount Pleasant should be too much for 10th-place Molynes United FC, especially at home.

Vere United are a lock for relegation and hurt themselves even further last week, by fielding an ineligible player which, effectively, just made their goal difference worse as the victory and 3-0 margin of victory awarded to Harbour View only meant that Harbour View were credited with an additional goal.

Today, they host neighbours Humble Lion who are expected to have no pity on them. Fellow relegation certainties UWI FC could find themselves at the edge of a sword as the leaders seek to re-establish their dominance and put on a performance in honour of the lionhearted Irvino English, who was murdered on Ash Wednesday. In his playing days, English was a shining light for the club.

Today’s games

- 3:30 p.m.: Dunbeholden vs Harbour View – Royal Lakes Complex

- 3:30 p.m.: Portmore United vs Tivoli Gardens – Spanish Town Prison Oval

- 3:30 p.m.: Vere United vs Humble Lion – Wembley Centre of Excellence

- 7 p.m.: Waterhouse vs UWI FC – Waterhouse Stadium

- 7 p.m.: Mount Pleasant vs Molynes United – Drax Hall Sports Complex

Tomorrow’s game

- 8 p.m.: Cavalier vs Arnett Gardens – Stadium East