Portmore United are set for a crucial return-leg encounter with CD Plaza Amador in the Scotiabank CONCACAF League today at 7:00 pm at the Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City.

Portmore enter the return leg with a 1-0 advantage from the first leg played at the National Stadium in Kingston last Wednesday. The winner of the tie will advance to the quarter-final round of the Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

The Portmore United team arrived in Panama City on Monday evening and had their final practice session inside the Rommel Fernandez Stadium yesterday morning. Head Coach Shavar Thomas is confident that the team can get the result in Panama City that will ensure their spot in the next round of the inaugural Scotiabank CONCACAF League.

“We have the advantage so we know they will have to come at us. It will be a tough game; they have the home field advantage and are used to the conditions here. We also expect the crowd to be behind them as well. We know the task we have. We have prepared tactically, physically and mentally and once we apply what we have addressed as a team, I am confident that we can get a favourable result. We have a good mixture of young and experienced players, and they are eager to go out there and express themselves on the pitch,” said Thomas.

Portmore United striker Jermie Lynch proved to be the difference in Kingston in what was a tactical battle between the teams. Lynch’s 73rd-minute strike, converted from a Ricardo Morris cross, ensured Portmore came to Panama City with the advantage. The competition utilises the away goal rule, so a clean sheet at home was a major triumph along with the one-goal lead.

“We had a very strong defensive display at home, not just from the back four, but the team on a whole defended as a group and prevented the Plaza team from getting an away goal which is crucial in this competition. We are now the away team so, while we already have the lead, we will definitely be trying to add to that, especially with the away goal rule in effect,” Thomas concluded.

The quarter-final stage is scheduled to start on August 17. The inaugural Scotiabank CONCACAF League champion will earn a berth to the CONCACAF Champions League slated for February – May 2018. The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League will represent the region at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in December 2018.