PORTMORE UNITED moved to second place in the Wray and Nephew-sponsored Jamaica Premier League (JPL) when they downed Harbour View 4-1 yesterday at the Waterhouse Stadium.
Goals from Romeo Guthrie (35th minute), Marques Reid (65th), Ramone Howell (89th) and Orlando Russell (90+1) handed all three points to Portmore.
Trayvonne Reid’s opening goal in the 29th minute proved to be a consolation.
Portmore’s head coach, Rodolph Austin, praised his players for the come-from-behind win.
“My team showed some good character,” he said.
“We went down 1-0 and came back to win 4-1, so for me that’s brilliant.”
It was an even contest throughout the first 45 minutes with both teams going in search of the go-ahead goal.
Reid opened the scoring for the Stars of the East in the 29th minute of play with a brilliant show of technique.
Standing over a free kick, the midfielder curled the ball around the wall and out of the reach of goalkeeper Daniel Russell.
However, the lead did not last long. Just six minutes later, Guthrie pulled Portmore level, heading home from close range.
Marques Reid restored Portmore’s lead in the 65th minute, finishing off some good build-up play with aplomb.
Portmore continued to press as Venton Evans saw his effort flying high of the cross bar in the 78th.
A little over 10 minutes later, Howell made up for Evans’ miss when he capitalised on a Harbour View mistake to curl the ball home from just outside the box.
Second-half substitute Russell capped off the win in time added as his unmarked run at the back post saw him firing into the roof of the net.
With the result, Portmore moves to second in the JPL standings with 18 points, trailing leaders Montego Bay United (22).
Harbour View, on the other hand, sit 12th in the standings with eight points, hanging just above the relegation zone ahead of Molynes United, who are 13th with five.
Portmore’s next assignment will see them playing hosts to Arnett Gardens at Ferdi Neita Park.
