Rivoli United's Devon Hodges (right) shields the ball from Portmore United's Tremaine Stewart, during their Digicel Premier League match at the Ferdie Neita Park in Braeton, Portmore, on Sunday. The game ended 1-1. - Anthony Minott/Freelance Photographer

Portmore United had to draw on all their reserves to eke out a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Rivoli United in a St Catherine derby, as the Digicel Premier League entered its third round at the Ferdie Neita Park, Braeton, Portmore, on Sunday.

The draw inched Portmore to 44 points and allowed Harbour View to take over the lead in the standings on a superior goal difference, while Rivoli stayed in eighth position on 25 points.

"We are a bit disappointed with the draw, we never started well, our first half was a little bit poor. We picked it up in the second half," noted Portmore United's coach, Linval Dixon.

Tricky fixture

"To be fair, a 1-1 result is really what the game deserves ... they (Rivoli) were coming at us, they were playing well, they were working really hard. As I said earlier in the week, it was a tricky fixture, this team is improving, at the end we could live with the one point," added Dixon.

Rivoli took advantage of a sloppy first-half display by Portmore and went ahead in the 38th minute, when the speedy Valentine Gardener slotted home past Shawn Sawyers in goal for Portmore. Gardener was the beneficiary of a left flank cross from Devon Hodges.

Beautiful chance

Prior to that goal, Portmore got two chances to put their name on the scoresheet. The first was an easy opportunity, as Steven Morrissey wasted a beautiful chance in the 20th minute. After he dispatched a couple of Rivoli defenders, he knifed inside and fired way over the crossbar from point-blank range. Ricardo Cousins was denied what appeared a sure goal in the 32nd minute, as his powerful shot heading to the roof of the net was blocked by a Rivoli defender.

The second half saw Portmore more purposeful in attack and got a break in the 49th minute as referee Karl Tyrell blew Rivoli's Fabian Gordon for a handball inside the penalty box. Portmore's captain, Anthony Modeste, stepped up and fired in the spot kick to make it 1-1.

The goal somewhat disrupted the play of Rivoli, but Portmore were not able to capitalise as they made promising runs but lacked finishing.

Late in the game, Portmore's goalie Sawyers kept the game deadlocked after punching away Fidel Anderson's blistering free kick from outside the 18-yard box.

Rivoli's coach, Bradley Stewart, was happy for the point.

"I really thought Rivoli gave a honest account tonight (Sunday). I am saying that on the basis of where we are in the league.

"We are the eighth-place team and Portmore is the top team in the country. We see this as some sort of achievement, not losing to Portmore."