Daniel Green’s first-half goal gave Mt Pleasant their first win of the series and moved them to four points, joint second with Cibao FC, both a point behind leaders Salcedo FC.

The loss is not the end for Portmore United, who had beaten Cavalier FC in their previous game to sit on three points. A win in their final group game could see them advance.

Portmore played the last 10 minutes of the game with 10 players after goalkeeper Daveigh Payton was shown a red card. He came out of the 18-yard box to foul a Mt Pleasant player, denying him a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Payton will miss next week’s game as well.

GGreen, last season’s Most Valuable Player, was well placed to score in the 41st minute. He fired into an unprotected goal after Payton had blocked a long-range shot from Nickalia Fuller straight into the path of Green, who made no mistake.

Portmore United had a good scoring chance late in the game but Mt Pleasant’s goalkeeper Shaquan Davis did well to stop it just before it crossed the goal line.

Shaqueil Bradford should have scored a second goal for Mt Pleasant but he missed a wide-open goal from about six yards out late in the contest.