By HOWARD WALKER

Senior reporter

KINGSTON, Jamaica – A stunning goal by Ricardo Morris propelled Portmore United to a 1-0 win over Waterhouse to retain their Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) crown inside the National Stadium minutes ago. 

The 26-year-old Morris, capped 13 times for Jamaica with two goals, scored a sweet left footed shot from 25 metres out that whistled past the diving hands of goalkeeper Diego Haughton in the 57th minute. 

It was Portmore United’s second consecutive RSPL title and their seventh hold overall. They won twice in 1993 and 2003 as Hazard United before a name change to Portmore United and an affiliation change from Clarendon to St Catherine and further won in 2005, 2008, 2012 and 2018.

The Shavar Thomas-coached Portmore United walked away with the $2.5 million winners’ prize plus another $1 million for being the preliminary round champions.

But the occasion was marred by a bottle throwing incident in the Bleachers section which halted the final match in the 82nd minute for approximately 16 minutes. 

Members of the police force went to solve the problem but they too were pelted with objects and had to retreat. 

Then fans were seen jumping the barricades from the Bleachers as they sought refuge in the Grandstand area. 

The game restarted and it announced that 12 minutes were added on the clock after the situation returned to normal.

It was the second consecutive year Waterhouse were losing to Portmore United in the final and their drought have now stretched to 13 years since they last tasted victory in the competition.

The Marcel Gayle-coached Waterhouse collected $1.5m for the runners-up spot. 

Earlier in the curtain raiser, Cavalier secured third spot with a 1-0 win over Mount Pleasant Football Academy. 

Alex Marshall scored the all-important goal in minute 34, enabling Cavalier to pocket $1m. 

St Ann-based Mount Pleasant which were playing in top-flight football for the first time after just three years in existence, collected $500,000 for their efforts.