Portmore United’s dream season continued on Monday as they kept alive their hopes of being the first promoted team to win the Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) after dispatching Humble Lion 3-1 at the Anthony Spaulding Sports Complex to advance to the final 4-3 on aggregate.

Portmore United, who were relegated in the 2013/14 season, returned to top-flight football for the 2015/16 campaign and topped the preliminary-round standing with 61 points to walk away with the $1m prize.

Portmore United, the most successful club with five premier league titles, were trailing 1-2 from the first leg and they went to business early on and were rewarded for their efforts as a double strike from Michael Binns in the eighth and 22nd minutes, and a 76th-minute goal by Tremaine Stewart sealed the victory.

Portmore came out looking the sharper team and deserved the early breakthrough as Binns’ low free kick dipped just in front of goalkeeper Alien Whittaker and sailed under his body into the goal to level the two-legged tie at 2-2.

Then in the critical turning point of the game in the 20th minute, Humble Lion gave up a penalty and lost tough-tackling defender Ricardo Campbell to a straight red card after he handled a goal-bound shot on the line with goalkeeper Whittaker out of position. Binns stepped up and easily converted, making it 2-0 and 3-2 on aggregate for Portmore United.

Despite playing with 10 men, Humble Lion roared back and in fact, had the better of play and were rewarded in the 64th minute when Kemeel Wolfe fired home after a neat build-up making it 1-2 and 3-3 on aggregate. But Portmore United would not be denied and after goalkeeper Whittaker came for a ball and lost his bearings, with the ball bouncing beside him, Stewart fired home for the victory.

Portmore United’s head coach Geoffrey Hewitt said they had an uphill task and were really up against it, trailing 1-2 from the first leg at Effortville Community Centre, but they managed to get through.

“Tactically we knew what we had to do and get the job done and it was all about application, and today (Monday) I thought we applied ourselves really well and gave a good account,” said Hewitt.

“We knew we had goals and the objective was to get on the scoresheet as early as possible in order to alleviate some of the nerves and we did that, and from there is was somewhat not an easy task but we managed to pull it off,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Humble Lion’s coach Vassell Reynolds thought his team fought gallantly despite the setback of playing with 10 men for just over 70 minutes.

“I just asked them half-time to remain composed, keep it at that since we (were) just one goal behind and I asked players to double up because we were one man short and we did that and played really well,” said Vassell.

“I thought we went down one nil to a brilliant free kick, although maybe the keeper could have done a little bit better. But where it really got bad for us was when we conceded that second goal and lost a player. But I thought we really came back out and put Portmore on the back foot. We have been defending well all season and tonight we lost concentration and didn’t defend well,” he noted.

“So overall I am pretty pleased for the fact that we went two nil down and came back fighting to a very good Portmore team, but a lapse in concentration and it cost us in the end,” Vassell added.

Portmore United will now meet Montego Bay United in the grand finale on May 2, tentatively set for the National Stadium, although the venue could be changed by the organisers.

Teams: Portmore United: Shaven-Sean Paul, Damono Solomon, Ryan Wellington, Osani Ricketts, Kareem Manning, Ewan Grandison, Michael Binns, Kemar Phillpott (Kemo Gayle 88th), Tremaine Stewart, Ricardo Morris (Roberto Johnson 84th), Javon East (Maalique Foster 71st).

Subs not used: Eric Edwards, Mark Alves, Rodian Jennings, Omar Daley, Stephen Williams.

Booked: Phillpott (30th), Grandison (38th)

Humble Lion: Alien Whittaker, Ricardo Campbell, Kirk Duckworth (Jermaine Christian 81st), Kevon Reid, Lynval Lewis, Andrew Vanzie, Kadian Wynter (Hugh Howell 23rd), Ricardo Cousins, Wolry Wolfe, Kemeel Wolfe, Levaughn Williams (Francois Swaby 45th).

Subs not used: Kadeem Davis, Gregory Lewis, Dwayne Campbell, Kevaughn Isaacs.

Booked: Campbell (20th, ejected); Howell (90th+2)

Referee: Karl Tyrell

Assistant Referees: Garnett Page, Lloyd Edwards

Fourth Official: Oshane Nation

Match Commissary: Anthony Cooke