HUMBLE Lion forced Portmore United to keep their champagne on ice with a devastating 3-0 win in their Monday night Red Stripe Premier League game at Ferdie Neita Park.

It was a crushing blow to Portmore’s title bid as with a six-point lead, they needed only a draw to secure their fifth lien on the league, but will have to wait.

Portmore are winless in their three matches since the start of the fourth round and have seen their 10-point lead reduced to just six with two games remaining.

In fact, they have not won in their last five games — since beating Arnett Gardens 3-2 on March 25.

Head coach Calvin Lewis was visibly disappointed, along with the hundreds of Portmore fans who were hoping to pop the champagne in celebration.

But that was not to be as Humble Lion crashed the party in no uncertain manner.

It was Portmore’s biggest defeat of the season following their 2-4 loss to Boys’ Town on March 11.

“I’m very disappointed. It was a heavy loss for us, losing 3-0 at home in a game in which we were very much in control in the first half.

“We got caught with a quick free-kick and it just shows again that we’re not learning,” admitted a sombre-looking Lewis.

“We just need to keep our focus, go to Boys’ Town and do what we have to do. All is not lost; we still need a point from two games. We just need to regroup and get ourselves together. It’s part of the game and the fans are bemoaning this one, but we will bounce back,” he noted.

National player and former Portmore star Wolry Wolfe netted twice — in the 70th and 90+ minutes — while captain Omando McLoud scored in the 85th.

With the game delicately poised at 0-0 and Portmore looking well on their way to the title with little over 20 minutes left, coach Lenworth ‘Teacha’ Hyde pull off a master stroke.

He brought on his son, Lenworth ‘Conte’ Hyde for Cornelious Henry who was having a good game.

Before the substitution was made, Humble Lion earned a corner kick. Hyde’s first contribution was to dash from the half-line, collect a short corner pass from Wolfe and return to the latter whose low left-footer curled beautifully into the net, eluding a host of players, including goalkeeper Gariece Mcherson, who saw it late.

Needing just a point to win the league, Portmore naturally responded and peppered the Humble Lion goal and could have found the equaliser.

Ricardo Cousins collected a pass on his chest in the box, but saw his shot deflected wide. Moments later, Roen Nelson’s shot was blocked on the line. Substitute Paul Wilson had a good shout for penalty turned down after going down in the box.

But as they pushed forward for that crucial goal, Portmore were caught on the counter in a three-on-one situation at the back.

Hyde led the charge and his delicate chip over the last defender was knocked back by Jermaine Christian into the path of the onrushing McLoud, who fired a ferocious 25-metre shot past the bewildered McPherson to double the Lion’s advantage.

Then, with five minutes of time added on, Portmore really crashed the party as Wolfe curled a magnificent 25m free-kick to seal an impressive win.

From the moment the shot left his boot, it had goal written all over it. Wolfe stood there and clasped his hands while his teammates were all over him, celebrating a wonderful goal.

Hyde Snr had no qualms about crashing the party and keeping Portmore’s champagne on ice.

“I should have gone in there for one of the champagne,” said Hyde jokingly. “But is so football go. I think they are still the favourite to win the competition and I’m not taking anything away from them.

“They have an excellent season but we have to do what we have to do”.

He added: “We as coaches are professionals and we want to do the best as we can. When you are working, you have to give your best every time, and that’s what we did.”

Portmore, who remain on 66 points, will travel to second-placed Boys’ Town, on 60, on Sunday, setting the stage for an epic battle at Collie Smith Drive.

Portmore United — Gariece McPherson, Adrian Reid, Alvas Powell (Andrew Christie 84th), Upstan Edwards, Rosario Harriott, Eric Vernan, Damian Williams, Ewan Grandison (Paul Wilson 74th), Andrew Vanzie (Ricardo Cousins 54th), Alanzo Adlam, Roen Nelson

Subs not used: S Paul, R Wellington, J Doyley, N Brett

Booked: Vernan 57th

Humble Lion — Peter Harrison, Dwayne Dunk, Kirk Duckworth, Ricardo Campbell, Adrian Mitchell, Ziecko Herrera, Cornelious Henry (Lenworth Hyde Jnr 70th), Omando McLoud, Wolry Wolfe (Damian Barrett 90+5), Denzil Watson (Jermaine Christian 75th), Carlington Smith.

Subs not used: G Heron, O Walters, K Mills, F Bascoe

Booked: Carlington Smith 46th, Ziecko Herrera 48th

Referee: Lewin Purser

Assistant Referee: Keble Williams, Kedlee Powell

Fourth Official: Dwight Royal

Match Commissary: Richard Nathan