CHAMPIONS Portmore United climbed into second place in the Red Stripe Premier League after Alanzo Adlam’s second-half strike gave them a 1-0 win Tivoli Gardens at Ferdie Neita Park on Sunday.

The win lifted the Andre Waugh-coached Portmore to joint second on 31 points with MoBay United, who handed Waterhouse their first defeat of the round, and they remain seven points off the pace behind leaders Harbour View.

In a lacklustre first half, Portmore had one of few openings, but Ryan Wellington planted his header over the bar.

Tivoli had a great chance to get a goal late in the half, but Akeem Thenstead could not control his volley after a great ball over the top of the defence.

However, Portmore looked more purposeful after the break, but goalkeeper Edsel Scott prevented Ricardo Morris from breaking the deadlock on 50 minutes.

Both teams lost a player each on the hour mark when Dane Kelly threw an elbow to the face of Rosario Harriott, injuring him. The incident caused an aggressive response from Damian Williams, who got caught in an almost physical confrontation with Fabian Campbell.

Referee Cardella Samuels ejected both Williams and Campbell and showed Kelly the yellow card — although the latter’s action also warranted a red card.

The home team continued to threaten afterwards and eventually got the breakthrough six minutes later when Adlam, who received some stick from some Portmore fans in the first half, took a ball on top of the box and evaded his marker before unleashing a rocket into the roof of the net.

Portmore introduced Stephen Williams, who gave the home team new zest, but Morris squandered two other chances to increase their lead.

Tivoli tried desperately in the last 10 minutes to fashion an equaliser, but were thwarted without really threatening Kemar Foster in goal.