Wadadah's Markino Gillings (centre) fights off Portmore's Adrian Mitchell (left) and Chris Dawes during their Red Stripe Cup Champions Cup first-leg match at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday. The match ended 1-1. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Robert Bailey, Freelance Writer

PORTMORE UNITED were held to 1-1 draw by Wadadah in their first-leg quarter-final encounter in the Red Stripe Champions Cup Knockout competition at Ferdie Neita Park yesterday.

Onandi Lowe gave the home side the lead in the 53rd minute, then substitute Damion Chambers pulled Wadadah level in the 89th minute.

Allan Aarons, coach of Wadadah, said he was pleased with his team's performance and is now looking forward tothe return leg in Montego Bay.

"I am very satisfied with this result because a 1-1 draw at Ferdie Neita Park against a team like Portmore is good," said Aarons.

"Our plan was to stay behind the ball whenever we lost it and use zone defence and counter-attacks because we were definitely looking for a draw or an away goal to take into the return leg," he said.

Disappointed

Linval Dixon, the new coach of Portmore United, said he was disappointed with his team's effort.

"I think it was a poor performance based on what we had set out to do. We were planning to get an advantage to go back for the second leg, but at the end we got a draw so we just have to go back to the drawing board and come better next time," said Dixon.

"Our downfall was in front of the goal. We were not getting enough shots from the strikers and, come next week, hopefully we can get it right."

The home team dominated the first period but squandered numerous clear chances.

Lowe, Kevin Deerr, Garth Bootha and Anthony Bennett were all guilty of missing sitters for Portmore.

Wadadah's best chance in the half fell to Markino Gillings but his effort on goal went high over the crossbar.

In the second half, Portmore continued to dominate and were finally reward when Lowe fired home a powerful point-blank shot past goalkeeper Gavin Barrett.

Fifteen minutes later, Portmore substitute Oneil McDonald's long-range shot was denied by the crossbar.

With time running out, Chambers picked up the ball from midfield and dribbled his way past two Portmore defenders before firing home a powerful close-range shot past custodian Shawn Sawyers.

TODAY'S GAMES

Portmore United 1

Onandi Lowe 53rd

Wadadah 1

Damion Chambers 89th

August Town vs Village United at UWI Bowl - 3:30 p.m.

Waterhouse vs Boys' Town at Waterhouse - 6:00 p.m.