PORTMORE UNITED and Tivoli Gardens yesterday advanced to the semi-finals of the Red Stripe Cham-pions Cup Knockout Competition in contrasting style.

At the Catherine Hall stadium in Montego Bay, an Onandi Lowe hat-trick and a strike by Mario Swaby saw Portmore to an emphatic 4-0 victory over Wadadah in their second-leg quarter-final game for a 5-1 aggregate triumph.

At the Edward Seaga Stadium, Tivoli fell at home to Harbour View, 1-0, but went through with a 3-1 aggregate. "We came here today looking to score an early goal and it basically happened for us," said Christopher Bender, the assistant coach of the Portmore team. "After that, things fell into place as we never came under any pressure during the game."

Lowe's goal-scoring onslaught started in the 26th minute when he won possession in a goal-mouth melee and fired home. He was again on target in the 45th minute when he curled a free kick around the Wadadah defensive wall to make the halftime score 2-0.

Hat-trick

After Swaby made it 3-0 in the 59th minute when he outpaced the Wadadah defence and fired home, Lowe returned to complete his hat-trick in the 75th minute. He nodded a pass in front of goal wide of the goalkeeper.

In west Kingston, Harbour View won the battle with a 1-0 win over Tivoli Gardens, but lost the war 4-1 on aggregate as the defending champions booked their semi-final spot.

Harbour View captain Lovel Palmer netted the game's lone goal with a 50th- minute header. Palmer was on hand to profit after striker Kavin Bryan turned sharply to strike a well-weighted through ball from central midfielder Donald Stewart to goal, the attempt forced Tivoli custodian Damion Crooks to parry away but the save went right to Palmer.

Despite the goal, the 'Stars of the East' were behind the eight ball from the start of the encounter. The team was already far in arrears following a 4-0 pounding at the Harbour View Stadium in the first-leg encounter last week and never looked likely to level the score.

A couple of early first-half opportunities fell to ace striker Fabian Taylor but the usually reliable marksman was unable to convert.

Despite being knocked out of the Cup, Harbour View coach Lenworth Hyde was pleased with his team's performance.

"It was an exciting game, it just a pity we couldn't get a couple more goals but that's just how it is," he said.

"We played well and I think the game was good exercise for our (NPL) game on Sunday," he added.

Tivoli coach Calvert Fitzgerald saw his team create limited opportunities in front of goal but was satisfied with coasting through to the next round.

"We were comfortable coming into this game, the only thing is that we didn't want to concede but we are happy to be through to the next round," Fitzgerald said. "We always seem to save our best game for Harbour View and if we can repeat these type of performances we will be in good stead," he said.

SCORES

Portmore ................................................... 4

Onandi Lowe 26th, 45th, 75th. Mario Swaby 59th

Wadadah .................................................... 0

(Portmore advance 5-1 aggregate)

Tivoli .......................................................... 0

Harbour View ........................................... 1

Lovel Palmer 50th(Tivoli advance 3-1 aggregate)

TODAY'S GAMES

Village United vs. August Town at Elliston Wakeland.

Boys' Town vs. Waterhouse at Collie Smith Drive.Both games start at 3:00 p.m.