Portmore United reach Caribbean Cup final despite 2-1 loss to Violette

Portmore United will play in the 2026 Concacaf Caribbean Cup final. The Jamaican club lost 2-1 to Violette AC at Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, on Wednesday 28 October in the semi-final second leg, but went through 4-3 on aggregate. Portmore had won the first leg 3-1.

The result also gives Portmore a place in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup, according to Concacaf, Haiti Tempo and the Jamaica Observer.

How the match unfolded

Tedj Bryan put Portmore ahead in the 21st minute, scoring on the rebound after Violette goalkeeper Gooly Elien parried the ball, Haiti Tempo reported. Needing to win by at least two goals, the Haitian side chased the game for most of the night.

Maxime Jeanty equalised in the 73rd minute and Roberto Jean then put Violette ahead in the 87th minute, according to Concacaf's official match report and Haiti Tempo. The Jamaica Observer puts that goal in the 83rd minute. Violette could not find the extra goal that would have levelled the tie.

One Champions Cup place still to play for

Elimination does not end Violette's continental hopes. The Caribbean Cup carries three places in the 2027 Concacaf Champions Cup: the two finalists qualify directly and the third goes to the winner of the third-place series, according to Concacaf.

Violette will face Club Sando of Trinidad and Tobago, beaten by Mount Pleasant in the other semi-final, over two legs in early December. Under the competition rules, the club with more points in the tournament hosts the second leg.

"Kounye a, nou vire paj la. Tout konsantrasyon nou sou pwochen match la," the club wrote on Instagram after the match ("Now we turn the page. All our focus is on the next match"), adding that a Concacaf Champions Cup place was still there to be won.

The final

Portmore will meet defending champions Mount Pleasant in an all-Jamaican final on 1 and 5 December, according to Haiti Tempo and the Jamaica Observer. The Observer notes that at least one Jamaican club has reached the Caribbean Cup final in each of the past four years, and that it is the first all-Jamaican final of the Caribbean club championship since Harbour View met Tivoli Gardens in 2004.

Support from Port-au-Prince

Before the second leg, Youth and Sports Minister Pythagore Dumas expressed confidence in the "Vieux Tigre", according to HaitiLibre, saying public support was an extra motivation for the players and technical staff.