Nelson .. struck the decisive goal for Portmore. - File

A 90TH-MINUTE strike by prolific goalscorer Roen Nelson lifted Portmore United to a 1-0 victory over Arnett Gardens in their Digicel Premier League game at Ferdie Neita Park on Wednesday evening.

"We did not really have a good first round but we set our sights on having a good second round," winning coach Linval Dixon said. "It is so good to know that Roen Nelson is back and we are happy that he scored."

Interesting encounter

It was an interesting and exciting encounter from start to finish as both teams played workman-like football with tactical ball movement.

Portmore got an early chance to take the lead after Steven Morrissey got a ball at the top of Arnett box and dismissed two defenders before firing a weak shot into the hands of Arnett custodian Julian McLeish in the 10th minute.

Two minutes later, Arnett had their chance after Leon Strickland dribbled into the opponent's goal area and then rolled an easy ball across the goal for Kevin Wilson to seal things. However, Wilson missed the ball.

Arnett player/coach Fabian Davis made an excellent chip of the ball in the Portmore goal area in the 25th minute and the Portmore custodian was fully stretched to make the save.

Both teams came out in an attacking and energetic mood after the break and Nelson missed a clear chance in the 50th minute after Bryan Bayliss dribbled into Arnett's goal area and made a defence splitting cross with the ball going towards Nelson, who missed the ball.

Numerical disadvantage

Arnett were reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when Adonijah Cameron was shown the red card by referee Dwight Royal for a second bookable offence.

The numerical disadvantage did not prevent Arnett from exerting the pressure on the Portmore defenders as they made several attack on the Portmore goal area.

Portmore, however, surprised Arnett in the 90th minute when Nelson got the ball in Arnett's 18-yard box with two defenders on his heels. He turned and fired a cracker at goal, beating McLeish.

"We came out today and we played a good tactical game, a good high-pressure game and the tempo was really high," Davis said. "Our confidence is growing game by game, but we lost our concentration in the last 10 minutes of the game and we gave up a goal."