CATHERINE HALL, St James — Montego Bay United have joined leaders Mt Pleasant FA and Arnett Gardens as early qualifiers for the Jamaica Premier League play-offs, after a third 0-0 draw against Portmore United at the Montego Bay Sports Complex on Sunday.

Despite playing without a number of regular starters, the point earned by Montego Bay United on Sunday saw them improve to 65 points, same as second-placed Arnett Gardens, with both trailing Mt Pleasant FA by four points.

After missing out on qualification last season, on goal-difference behind Waterhouse FC, this is the first time that Montego Bay United will be qualifying for the play-offs since they last won the title in 2016.

Both coaches, Paul “Tegat” Davis of Montego Bay United and Rudolph Austin of Portmore United were satisfied with the point.

It was back-to-back 0-0 draws for Montego Bay United and Davis, who pointed to the absence of a number of top players, who were out with injuries or suspensions, said he did not see enough passing from his players.

“It was a tactical game, that is the only way they could play us as if they had tried to be open we would have damaged them,” Davis said after the game.

Montego Bay United were without the Trinidad and Tobago duo of Josiah Trimmingham and Darnell Hospidales, who had not returned from international duties, as well as Brian Brown, Shaniel Thomas, Jean Claudio Ferrerra and Odain Nish.

Portmore United have only scored 40 goals in their 32 games, the least by any team chasing a play-off spot and Austin admitted they have struggled in scoring position all through the season.

“We have that problem, you know, we have been trying to fix it but you can practise as much as you want, but when the situation arise, we have to capitalise on it, and we haven’t been doing that,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

He said though they “didn’t get any really clear-cut chances tonight, but we got into some good situations. If we make better decisions in the final third, it could have been different”.