Brown strike gives Mt Pleasant 1-0 edge over Portmore in JPL semi first leg

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Mt Pleasant FA hold a narrow advantage over Portmore United after winning the opening leg of their Jamaica Premier League semi-final 1-0 on Sunday at the National Stadium. Substitute Warner Brown found the net in the second half to put Mt Pleasant ahead before Wednesday’s return fixture, though referee Okeito Nicholson’s decision to rule out a Portmore goal minutes earlier dominated much of the post-match talk.

Neither side broke the deadlock in the first half. Portmore believed they had gone in front in the 70th minute when Reggae Boy Corey Burke beat two defenders on the left, cut into the penalty area and beat goalkeeper Shaquan Davis. The effort struck the underside of the crossbar before Kimoni Bailey cleared for Mt Pleasant. Nicholson first indicated a goal, then changed the call after speaking with his assistant referees.

Mt Pleasant punished the setback soon after. Raheem Edwards struck from just outside the box in the 81st minute; the ball ran only a short distance to Brown, who spun past a defender and finished to give the home side the lead they take into the second leg.