Tivoli Gardens kept their slim hopes of making it to the Red Stripe Premier League play-offs when they ended the seven-game unbeaten run of Portmore United at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Sunday.

A goal from talisman Colorado Murray, an own goal and a penalty in the 43rd minute from veteran Jermaine “Teddy” Johnson helped Tivoli Gardens come from a goal down to win 3-2 over the champions. Portmore’s goals came from defender Rosario Harriott as well as an own goal.

The game was only 11 minutes old when Harriott scored a header directly from a corner kick taken by Emelio Rousseau. The big defender was left all alone at the far post and he headed past Davin Watkins to give his team a 1-0 lead.

The Portmore joy would not last long as the hosts hit back through Murray who powered home from close range to make it 1-1 two minutes later.

The home fans were in full voice a few minutes later when a Murray cross from the right side was turned in by defender Osani Ricketts into his own net to give the seventh-place team a 2-1 lead, on minute 21.

Things got even better for the Phillip Williams-coached team when they were awarded a penalty after the Portmore goalkeeper Benjamin Williams crashed into Murray as he chased down a long ball into the area.

After a long delay for Murray to receive treatment, Johnson stepped up to send Williams the wrong way and increase his team’s advantage to 3-1 heading into the half-time break.

Tivoli Gardens should have added to their lead shortly after the restart but the willing Murray was unable to get unto the end of a cross from Howard Morris.

Portmore had made one change at half-time bringing in the attacking Andre Lewis for central midfielder Damian Williams before making two more changes — Rondee Smith and Venton Evans for Lamar Walker and Donnegy Fer — with half-hour to go, as they chased the game.

They took control of the midfield and their efforts bore fruit when they also benefitted from an own goal as a cross hit Marvin Stewart and looped over the head of Watkins to land in the goal in the 68th minute.

Portmore United twice came close to grabbing an equaliser late on. First Ryan Wellington got on the end of a Ricardo Morris free kick but his header was just wide of the target and then Javon East tried to dribble inside of the box to create space when the better opting was to try and shoot into an empty net.

A strong rearguard action by Tivoli Gardens in the final few minutes meant Williams got his first win as head coach of Tivoli Gardens in five tries.

Tivoli Gardens remain in seventh place on 39 points but cut the gap on sixth-place UWI FC to three points ahead of yesterday’s Monday Night game against Waterhouse FC.

Teams: Tivoli Gardens FC — Davin Watkins, Barrington Pryce, Jermaine Johnson (Trayvonne Reid 69th), Kemar Seivwright, Shavar Campbell, Marvin Stewart, Andre Moulton, Howard Morris (Rodico

Wellingston 66th), Kevin Garnett, Raymond Williamson, Colorado Murray (Shevon Richards 90th+1)

Subs not used: Shaquille Jones, Ezran Simpson, Davian Goldbourne, Nicholas Clarke

Booked: Pryce (32nd), Garnett (51st)

Portmore United — Ryan Wellington, Lamar Walker (Rondee Smith 61st), Damian Williams (Andre Lewis 46th), Ricardo Morris, Javon East, Osani Ricketts, Roberto Johnson, Rosario Harriott, Donnegy Fer (Venton Evans 61st) Emelio Rousseau, Benjamin Williams

Subs not used: Shaven Paul, Roshane Sharpe, Cleon Pryce, Romaine Brackenridge

Booked: none

Referee: Kevin Morrison

Assistant Referees: Rolanzo Bennett, Joshua Jackson

Fourth Official: Odette Hamilton