Reigning champions Cavalier FC kept their title defence alive with nerves of steel and a timely flash of brilliance, as they edged Portmore United 1-0 in extra time in a dramatic second-leg quarterfinal showdown at Sabina Park on Monday night.

With the tie evenly poised at 1-1 after the first leg, the stage was set for a winner-takes-all clash between two determined sides. But when all seemed headed for penalties, Dwayne “Busy” Atkinson popped up in the 96th minute with a decisive strike—his 13th of the season—to send Cavalier through to the semi-finals 2-1 on aggregate.

They now set up a tantalizing repeat of last season’s semi-final against Arnett Gardens at the Montego Bay Sports Complex in Catherine Hall on Thursday.

Head coach Rudolph Speid praised his team's fight and character in what he believes was their sternest test so far this season.

"This is one of the hardest games we have ever played, so I must say hats off to Portmore; they really stuck in there and gave us a hard time, and their defence is really first-rate. This has been one of the hardest campaigns for us, and I am proud of that the guys were able to pull it off. He [Atkinson] promised us that he was going to score, so even when he started to hop, we kept him in because we believe in him and he was able to come up with the goods," Speid said post-game.

Dwayne Atkinson celebrates his all-important goal.

Portmore United, who were in search of a breakthrough win over Cavalier this campaign, came close on several occasions, but none more significant than a first-half penalty they failed to convert.

Cavalier started the brighter of the two, as they looked purposeful and proactive from the opening whistle. Their early dominance yielded several half-chances, including a sharp drive from Atkinson at the top of the box that forced Portmore’s goalkeeper Daniel Russell into action.

Despite being second-best in the early exchanges, Portmore United got a golden opportunity to snatch the lead in the 21st minute when a Ronaldo Robinson shot was handled in the box by Jalmaro Calvin. But Emilio Rousseau’s tame penalty effort was well read and saved by Cavalier’s Vino Barclett, who guessed right and kept his side in the game.

That missed chance seemed to deflate Portmore momentarily, but they nearly struck again moments later from the ensuing corner, only for Stephen Young to squander a close-range opportunity at the far post.

The match remained tightly contested, full of pace and intensity, but lacked the finishing quality. Cavalier’s quick counters fizzled out, while Portmore’s Javier Brown came within inches of breaking the deadlock just before the halftime whistle with a thunderous left-footed shot that sailed wide.

Goalless at the break, both sides returned with renewed urgency on the resumption. Portmore United, perhaps feeling the weight of their squandered chances, pressed forward with intent, and Brown was again at the heart of their best moment in the 67th minute, but he failed to convert Romeo Guthrie’s pinpoint cross, as his header went wide.

Still, the former champions continued to press, and Barclett was again called upon in the 82nd minute to produce an acrobatic save to deny a stinging drive from Robinson, who was arguably Portmore’s liveliest player on the night.

With 90 minutes unable to separate the sides, the contest moved into extra time, where the champions finally struck gold.

After a fluid build-up, Atkinson found space in between two defenders to tuck a right-footer past Russell and send the Cavalier bench and fans into a frenzy.

Though Portmore pushed desperately for an equaliser and created fleeting opportunities through Robinson and substitute Jermie Lynch, Cavalier's defensive line held firm at the end.

Portmore's head coach, Rudolph Austin, rued their missed chances.

"Definitely disappointed. As you know, throughout the season we haven't been scoring; we got our chances to win the game, and we didn't take them. Football is simple...stop your opponent from scoring and take your chances when you get them, and we didn't do that, but we will build from here," the former Reggae Boyz defender said.