Cavalier lead the way in JPL

Cavalier’s coach, Rudolph Speid, said it feels good to be on top of the Jamaica Premier League (JPL) after clipping Portmore United 2-1 win at Stadium East to hand the St Catherine-based club their first defeat of the season.

The win pushed the 2021 champions to 21 points, two more than former leaders Mount Pleasant, who play today.

Ronaldo Webster was first to put Cavalier on the score card on the brink of halftime. Emelio Rousseau levelled the score for Portmore in the 53rd minute, but leading scorer Collin Anderson sealed Cavalier’s victory with a 66th minute strike, his ninth goal of the season.

“It feels good,”Speid said. “But it could be temporary, though, because Mount Pleasant have a chance to go back in the lead. But I hope they have a draw, and we’ll be fine.”

Portmore started briskly and came close to taking the lead when Akeem Mullings’ acrobatic effort crashed against the post. Rousseau also rattled the bar with a well-struck free kick from 20 yards out moments later.

Cavalier were always dangerous on the break at the start of the game, but the Rodolph Austin-led defence kept them from really creating any real openings.

However, at the close of the half, Webster rose above the Portmore defence to nod home the opening goal.

Rousseau restored parity soon after the break when his deflected strike beat goalkeeper Vino Barclett.

Austin then came close to giving Portmore the lead with a half-volley, which Barclett parried wide.

However, Cavalier reclaimed the lead when leading striker Anderson turned home a cross from another corner in the 66th minute.

After six games undefeated, Portmore’s coach, Phillip Williams, said he is disappointed with the loss after playing one of their better matches.

“I am disappointed but not for (losing) the (unbeaten) tag but because of how we played. We did well enough to have gotten a point,” Williams said.

“Those two goals were soft by our standard, but there were a lot of positives on the offensive end.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com

Other scores.

Humble Lion 3 Chapleton 0

Montego Bay 1 Faulkland 0

Molynes 0 Harbour View 0

Today’s games

5 p.m.: Vere vs Mount Pleasant

7:30 p.m.: Waterhouse vs Tivoli

Both games will be played at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex