After passing the sternest of tests in the defence of their title, Cavalier FC’s sporting director Rudolph Speid says it is arguably easier to progress in the Caribbean Cup than the Jamaica Premier League.

Speid, who led Cavalier to the Caribbean title last year, had to pull out all the stops to repel the challenge of a rejuvenated Portmore United. Cavalier won 1-0 at Sabina Park in Kingston on Monday night to advance 2-1 on aggregate.

Cavalier will face another acid test when they tackle Arnett Gardens, who are the current Caribbean Shield champions.

“I kinda believe that it’s easier to progress there [in the Caribbean Cup] than to progress in the Jamaica Premier League,” said Speid, when quizzed by the Jamaica Observer.

“It’s harder because the players would have known each other. When I play in the Caribbean Cup, the teams are not used to what we do,” he explained.

“I am thinking that all the top teams in Jamaica can beat most of the teams in the Caribbean Cup,” he added.

Portmore United, who finished in fifth in the league standings, certainly backed up Speid’s argument and should have won based on the number of goalscoring chances they had over the two legs.

On Monday, Portmore’s skipper Emelio Rousseau missed a penalty in the 23rd minute and they were made to pay as Dwayne Atkinson popped up to find the winner in the seventh minute of extra time.

“This is one of the hardest games we have ever played. Hats off to Portmore, they really are a good defensive team. We had to pull out our stocks, and Dwayne Atkinson, no praise is too high, probably the best player in the Caribbean,” said Speid.

Former Premier League and Caribbean champions Portmore United continued to struggle in front of goal and it eventually ended their season.

Head coach Rodolph Austin said he was proud of his boys, but noted that the club will be dipping into the transfer market to solve its goalscoring problem for next season.

“We know that we are short in the goalscoring department, so we have to get someone who puts the ball in the back of the net. That’s the main problem we have,” said Austin bluntly.

Portmore scored 46 goals from 39 games but he has defended his players regardless.

“I never see a player trying to miss a goal. I know they are trying, it just never happened. We just have to fill that gap next season,” Austin noted.

However, Austin was quick to point out that the goalscoring problem is not unique to Portmore United but throughout the league.

“We just have to try develop some young players and I believe that’s the way we should go,” he told the Observer.