After six years without a Wray & Nephew Jamaica Premier League title, record champions Portmore United are back in the final, with head coach Rodolph Austin crediting the team’s mentality for upsetting favourites Mount Pleasant Football Academy.

Portmore registered a thrilling 4-2 extra time win over Caribbean Cup Champions Mount Pleasant in their second leg semifinal on Wednesday at the National Stadium to advance 4-3 on aggregate.

After losing the first leg 0-1 in controversial, the St Catherine based club looked destined for the final after first half goals from Tarick Ximines and Ronaldo Robinson.

However, the league’s leading goalscorer Raheem Edwards came up clutch with his 23rd of the season for Mount Pleasant to make it 2-1 on the night and 2-2 on aggregate, forcing the match into extra time.

Dusting Cohen thought he had the winner for Portmore in the 105th minute but Mount Pleasant were awarded a penalty which Jahshaun Anglin converted in minute 108.

With the match on course for penalties, substitute Javier Brown struck with eight minutes to go to secure Portmore’s berth.

Austin says he’s proud that his team were able to overcome Mount Pleasant, despite the pressure on hand.

“I’m very happy but I’m really happy for the players. Some of the players haven’t experienced something like this before. They went out there today and they gave it their all,” he said.

“The first goal had to be [from] us because if we go down two-nil, it’s going to be difficult. We kept at it, the boys showed great character, great belief and we got it over the line.”

The Portmore boss made some big calls during the game, substituting several of his star players including Ximines in the 74th minute, who subsequently ignored the bench and walked straight down the tunnel. He did, however, return to the bench later in the game.

Austin says he will always do what’s best for the team even if it may be unpopular.

“The players were tired and I saw that so I have to make the decision. Sometimes it’s tough but you just have to make it,” he said.

“If someone wants to get in their feelings, then we can talk about it after the game but for me, the team always comes first. If I’m there at the sideline and I’m seeing a player tired and can’t help the team then my job is to take them off and that’s what I did.”

The win gives Portmore the chance to add to their seven JPL titles while also confirming their place in this year’s Concacaf Caribbean Cup.

Former Reggae Boyz midfielder Austin overcame his former national coach Theodore “Tappa” Whitmore, who will be absent from the JPL final for the first time in three years. Mount Pleasant won the title in 2023 but lost consecutive finals to Cavalier in 2024 and 2025.

After topping the league table and holding a one goal advantage , many felt it would be four-straight for Mount Pleasant but Whitmore says it wasn’t meant to be.

“We must give credit to the Portmore United team. I think what we came to do didn’t go to plan,” he said.

“I’ve never seen Mount Pleasant concede so much goals but credit must be given to the Portmore team, they showed character, they showed resilience and they are deserved winners.”

The defeat puts Mount Pleasant at risk of not defending their regional title but can still qualify if they win Sunday’s third-place play-off against Montego Bay United and subsequently win the CFU Club Shield.