Tivoli Gardens ousted Portmore United from the Flow Champions Cup all-island knockout football competition in a thrilling 3-0 encounter at the Edward Seaga Sports Complex on Wednesday night.

The game was evenly contested in the first 20 minutes as both teams tried to settle, but Tivoli rose to the occasion and created numerous opportunities to score afterwards.

Tivoli Gardens signalled their intentions when Jerry Walters executed a blistering shot that landed wide of the goal. A swift pass from Owen Gordon to Oraine Simpson sent the ball past goalkeeper Shawn Sawyers and into the net. However, this goal was deemed to be offside.

well-executed shot

They would get it right in the 44th minute when Roland Dean cut in from the right flank and, as Sawyers attempted to challenge, he took a well-executed shot from the six-yard box.

Portmore United's Ricardo Cousins tried to redeem his team with a powerful kick, but a save from goalkeeper Edsel Scott foiled his effort.

The second half was played at a faster pace, during which Tivoli capitalised at the 61st minute. Dean dribbled inside then made a quick pass for Simpson to score.

Substitutes Bryan Bayliss, who came on in the 64th minute and Michael Binns in the 69th, tried to rally Portmore but both fired attempts that went wide of goal and into the waiting arms of Scott, respectively.

It was substitute Sheldon Palmer, who came on in the 65th minute, which sealed the game for Tivoli Gardens with a stoppage-time goal.

Simpson passed to Palmer, who lined up the shot but failed on his first attempt. With goalkeeper Sawyers down, Palmer quickly used the opportunity to strike.

Max Straw, assistant coach for Tivoli Gardens, thought the players were brilliant. He stated that they came out and showed that football is all about the players.

"No matter what you say in the dressing room or on the drawing board it is the players and when they are totally committed they will deliver," Straw said.

psychological advantage

"We know that if we get a good psychological advantage over them in this game it would augur well for us for the rest of the season," he said.

A disappointed Linval Dixon, coach of Portmore United did not think his players played up to par.

"We have been let down really bad," Dixon said. "It didn't go well for us but at the same time Tivoli really played a good game. They fought us from the start to the end and we give credit to them," he said.

At the Waterhouse Mini Stadium, Waterhouse came from a goal down to beat Sporting Central Academy 3-1. Ian Palmer put Sporting Central ahead in the third minute before Irvino English found a 12th-minute equaliser. Damion Williams (74th) and Jermaine Anderson (90th) later scored to ensure a comfortable victory for the Drewsland team.

At the Spanish Town Prison Oval, a brace by Valentine Gardner saw the home team Rivoli get by Meadows 2-0.

The game between Harbour View and Meadhaven United was rescheduled because of bad lighting.