Portmore target fast Caribbean Cup start

Reigning Jamaica Premier League (JPL) champions Portmore United will open their Concacaf Caribbean Cup campaign today when they face Salcedo FC of the Dominican Republic at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Group B encounter is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. Jamaica time and marks the opening match for both teams. It also presents an opportunity for Portmore to lay down an early marker in what is expected to be one of the tournament’s most competitive groups.

It will be Portmore’s first appearance in the regional competition since 2021, when it was known as the Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship.

The club previously won the title in 2005 and 2019 and will be aiming to return to the summit of Caribbean football, while getting its campaign off to a positive start.

Led by head coach Rodolph Austin, Portmore will hope to continue the impressive form that carried them to the JPL title in May.

However, their route to regional glory will not be easy as they are set to face several of the Caribbean’s top teams, including two fellow Jamaican clubs.

Drawn in Group B, Portmore will come up against Cavalier and Mount Pleasant Football Academy of Jamaica, along with Cibao and Salcedo of the Dominican Republic.

Cavalier hold the distinction of being the only club to have appeared in two Caribbean Cup finals, finishing as runners-up in 2023 before lifting the title in 2024.

They also hold the record for the most goals scored in the competition by a Jamaican club, with 40, and will be confident of reaching the summit once again.

Portmore will also face Mount Pleasant, the defending champions.

Looked impressive

Despite finishing third in the JPL, Mount Pleasant secured their place in the Caribbean Cup after winning the CFU Club Shield title on Sunday.

Mount Pleasant looked impressive throughout their Club Shield campaign and will be seeking to carry that form into the Caribbean Cup.

Another formidable opponent will be Cibao of the Dominican Republic, runners-up in 2024.

Cibao finished fourth in last year’s competition and will be confident of going one step further this time around.

While they will be making their debut in the competition, Salcedo are also expected to pose a tough challenge following their impressive domestic form.

Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals and compete for a place in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

The two finalists and the third-placed team will qualify for the Champions Cup, with the champions receiving a bye to the round of 16.

gregory.bryce@gleanerjm.com