Portland edges Puerto Rico 1-0 (Extract) Portland Timbers News Release - www.portlandtimbers.com Thursday, April 17, 2008 PORTLAND, OR -- New forward Chris Brown scored a late goal with a one-man advantage to help the Portland Timbers defeated the Puerto Rico Islanders 1-0 in front of 10,977 fans Thursday at PGE Park. Thursday's attendance is the Timbers' second-largest, home-opening crowd since the club joined the USL First Division in 2001. Portland’s largest home-opening crowd came in 2001, as 12,295 fans witnessed the team's first-ever home match as a member of the USL First Division. With the win, Timbers extend their unbeaten regular-season streak at PGE Park to 15 matches. The streak started April 21, 2007 when the Timbers defeated Puerto Rico 3-1 at PGE Park to open the 2007 campaign. The last time Portland suffered a loss in a regular-season match was Sept. 7, 2006. Portland (1-0-0, 3pts) earned a one-man advantage late in the first half as Puerto Rico's Taiwo Atieno was sent off in the 40th minute after a violent collision with Portland defender Justin Thompson. Brown found his first goal of the season in the 71st minute on a pass from midfielder Tom Poltl. Along the left post from 22 yards out, Brown blasted a shot inside the far post for a 1-0 Portland lead. Portland is now 5-2-1 in home-opening matches since 2001. In his regular-season debut, Brown, who played for Major League's Real Salt Lake in 2007, took a match-high six shots as the Timbers out-shot the Islanders (0-1-0, 0pts) 10-7. At even strength, Brown nearly found his first goal of the night in the 15th minute as teammate Andrew Gregor chipped a ball into the box from 25 yards out. Fighting his way through two defenders, Brown got a toe on the ball and punched it just wide of the right post. Taking advantage of the new state-of-the-art FieldTurf playing surface at PGE Park, the Timbers have not lost a regular-season match at PGE Park in their last 15 games. Notes: The Timbers are now 5-3-0 all-time against Puerto Rico with all five victories coming at PGE Park ... Signed on Wednesday, new midfielder Bryan Little made his Timbers debut against Puerto Rico ... Portland defender Cameron Knowles has now played in his 33rd consecutive match, including the 2007 postseason. ==== Reference: http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/242135.html
Fallido inicio 'La Tropa Naranja', diezmada de personal, sufrió anoche un revés 1-0 en Portland en su primer juego de la temporada 2008. Por Luis Santiago Arce / larce@elnuevodia.com La temporada 2008 comenzó justo como no deseaban los Islanders de Puerto Rico. Un gol de Chris Brown al minuto 71 en el PGE Park de Portland le dio anoche a los Timbers una victoria 1-0 sobre unos diezmados Islanders en la primera salida de cada equipo en el torneo Primera División 2008 de la 'United Soccer Leagues' (USL). 'La Tropa Naranja', con apenas 14 jugadores habilitados en su plantilla, abrió con Bill Gaudette en la portería. Lo acompañaron Christian Arrieta, Nigel Henry, Scott Jones y Osei Telesford en la defensa; Edwin Miranda, Noah Delgado, Daniel Ojeda y Petter Villegas en el mediocampo, junto a Taiwo Atieno y Fabrice Noel como delanteros. Quedaron de suplentes Alberto Delgado, Raphel 'Mime' Ortiz y el arquero Justin Myers. El conjunto isleño, usando uniforme blanco con letras azules, tuvo dos claras oportunidades de gol temprano en el juego, en especial al noveno minuto con un servicio de Noel que recibió Atieno con un cabezazo que se fue sobre el travesaño. 4 - Jugadores de los Islanders de Puerto Rico que estuvieron inhabilitados para el partido de anoche en Portland debido a dificultades de documentación. La lista incluyó a Andrés Cabrero, Josh Hansen, Jonathan Steele y John Krause. Portland, sin embargo, reaccionó y a mediados del primer tiempo hubo par de peligrosos disparos de Chris Brown al minuto 24 y 35, pero el nuevo arquero isleño, Gaudette, logró resolver sin mayores dificultades. Los Timbers siguieron presionando y quedaron en ventaja numérica al minuto 40, cuando Atieno recibió una tarjeta roja al pegarle un codazo en la cabeza a Justin Thompson en lucha por un balón aéreo. La jugada provocó una airada discusión entre los cuerpos técnicos de ambos conjuntos. El nuevo atacante japonés de Portland, Takayuki Suzuki, recibió una amonestación al m. 45 por retrasar la acción del partido. Segundos después sonó el silbatazo que dio paso al intermedio sin anotaciones. Según las estadísticas oficiales, Puerto Rico dominó los 45 minutos iniciales, con ventaja 6-4 en tiros a puerta. Cada equipo tuvo un tiro de esquina, con nueve faltas del combinado visitante, frente a ocho de Portland. Gaudette salvó un tiro, y dos para Raymond Burse. Brown abrió el segundo tiempo con un peligroso envío que Gaudette logró detener justo a tiempo. Tuvo otra oportunidad al m.55, pero falló a un lado del arco boricua. El desafío comenzó a ponerse rudo poco después, con sendas tarjetas amarillas a Scott Thompson, de Portland, al m. 57, y a Telesford, dos minutos después. Ya al m. 69 llegó la primera sustitución boricua, al entrar Ortiz por Ojeda, al tiempo que varios jugadores de la escuadra visitante comenzaban a dar muestras de cansancio. También entró Delgado (Alberto) por Jones. Entonces llegó el momento decisivo, dos minutos más tarde. En un contragolpe, Brown se fue por el medio y sacó un bombazo unos pasos fuera del área grande que fusiló a Gaudette para definir el cotejo. Los Islanders, que nunca han ganado un desafío en Portland, tuvieron algunos intentos de balón parado en los minutos finales, pero sin resultados positivos. Justo al llegar al m.90, un asistente técnica del onceno isleño fue expulsado al entrar al terreno de juego para recuperar un balón, generando una serie de empujones y gritos entre ambos bandos. Segundos después, los Timbers se fueron en escapada con ventaja numérica 3-1, pero Gaudette logró frenar el disparo de Brown y Arrieta llegó justo a tiempo para despejar el remate de Gregor. Instantes más tarde sonó el pitazo final, que pareció llegar antes de completarse los cinco minutos agregados por el cuarto árbitro. Puerto Rico, semifinalista en el pasado torneo de la USL, sólo registró un tiro en la segunda etapa, para cerra con siete, frente a 12 de los Timbers. En faltas, los Islanders cometieron 14, y 15 de los anfitriones. Empataron en 'corners', 5-5, y Gaudette detuvo cuatro envíos, frente a 3 de Burse, según datos ofrecidos por la delegada del plantel boricua, Carmen Vanessa Figueroa. Los Islanders, que acaban de iniciar su quinta campaña seguida en la USL, viajarían hoy de regreso a casa, con miras a sus dos primeros partidos locales de la campaña, e próximo viernes 25 y domingo 27 de abril en el Estadio Juan Ramón Loubriel de Bayamón. Mientras, la temporada seguirá mañana, sábado 19, con visitas de los campeones Sounders de Seattle a Charleston, Montreal a Miami y Carolina a Atlanta. Luego, Minnesota estará en Portland el jueves 24. El pasado fin de semana hubo un triunfo inaugural de Vancouver 1-0 sobre Montreal, y Miami empató 0-0 con Charleston. ==== Referencia: http://www.elnuevodia.com/diario/noticia/futbol/deportes/fallido_inicio/393394
Miami wins 2-0 in Puerto Rico Miami FC Blues News Release - www.miamifc.com Friday, April 25, 2008 BAYAMON, PR -- In a rain drenched pitch at Juan Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, a ten-man Miami FC held off a second half onslaught from Puerto Rico to notch a 2-0 win and to pile up 3 vital points. It was a brave performance from the Blues, who had Sean Cameron, in a midfield role today, red carded for a harsh tackle in the 76 th minute. Miami FC came in today's match with a 0-1-1 record and the Islanders lost their season opener last week to league leading Portland Timbers. The Islanders controlled competition last season by posting a 3-0-1 record against Miami. However, both teams have gone under major personnel reconstruction in the off-season, leaving open plenty of speculation on how this year¢s teams will match up. The Blues capitalized on the few real scoring chances they had and were effective on set pieces. In the opening minutes of the first half, Walter Ramirez¢s free kick was narrowly saved by Islander's keeper Bill Gaudette. Both teams had trouble settling into the game due to poor pitch conditions and resorted to direct football with long balls. In the 25th minute, Walter Ramirez, who had another solid performance, sliced in a free kick in the 18-yard box for Sean Cameron to open the scoreboard with a powerful header to the far post. Miami FC would then have a good spell of possession but Puerto Rico did find space to cause ex-Islander keeper Josh Saunders trouble with a venomous Noah Delgado spot kick. As the first half drew to a close, the Islanders pressed forward and put heavy pressure on the Miami FC defense. Miami FC has led all their matches 1-0 at half time so far this season. In the second half, a revitalized Islanders produced an organized display by controlling most of the possession. Josh Saunders made some crucial saves to deny Puerto Rico on numerous occasions. Four minutes into the half, a low free kick from Puerto Rico's Jonathan Steele almost saw the back of the net after Ramirez's attempted clearance. Miami FC¢s defense and midfield battled bravely as the Islanders continued their siege. Miami FC captain, John Pulido, earned a yellow card for rough play. The ensuing kick from Noah Delgado, Puerto Rico¢s most dangerous player, triggered a close range volley from Steele but once again Miami¢s Saunders was up to the task. With the Islanders insisting on the equalizer, they did leave their defense exposed at times and Miami were able to take advantage. Almost five minutes after Sean Cameron's expulsion, Miami FC's Alex Afonso ran wide for a thru ball and crossed inside for substitute Juan Pablo Galavis to head home Miami FC's second goal of the evening. This was Miami FC's 4th goal off headers in three matches and huge blow to Puerto Rico. Josh Saunders broke his old fans hearts with spectacular saves off close-range efforts from the Islanders. Miami FC's defense was bombarded with long passes and crosses in the closing minutes and did well to hold off and secure a victory. Miami FC's continues their Puerto Rican tour and plays the Islanders again on Sunday.
Last night's win over Vancouver was another victory by an "Alajuelazo"!!! Alajuelazo: Winning goal scored on the 89' minute Named after:
Municipal saved a point at home! Islanders scored the 2-1 in the first extra minute, and were seconds away from the victory, when Guatemala tied it up. 3rd game in a row (Santos, Tauro, and now Islanders) that Municipal allows a go ahead goal in extra time. 17 undefeated game in a row for the Islanders never the less.
The 2008 Commissioner's Cup winners Puerto Rico Islanders advance to the USL-1 finals on a 3-2 aggregate goals win over Rochester in the Semi-Finals. The Islanders will now face Vancouver on October 12, 2008 in the final.
Puerto Rico 3-0 Rochester Islanders advance to the 2008 USL-1 Finals! Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfne0x8der0
USL-1 Championship Sunday on FSC Championship eras have become standard in USL top flight Friday, October 10, 2008 TAMPA, FL -- When the Vancouver Whitecaps play host to the Puerto Rico Islanders in the 2008 USL First Division Championship match Sunday, October 12 at 7:00 pm ET, the game could mark the continuation of a championship era for Vancouver, or the beginning of one for the Islanders. In the past 10 years, Rochester, Minnesota and Seattle have had their turns at the top. Last year, the Seattle Sounders were in their third final in four years and captured their second title in three. But before the Sounders, the Minnesota Thunder and Rochester Rhinos were the class of the league, squaring off in three straight title games beginning in 1998. The Rhinos reached a fourth in 2001. Now in their second championship game in three years, the Whitecaps could be in the midst of forging their own era as a powerhouse in the league. Having finished second with a first-year coach and numerous developing young players, it is not inconceivable that the Canucks could return to final in the next two years. But with their simultaneous success against arguably better competition on paper in the CONCACAF Champions League, the Islanders are quickly beginning to look like the Rhinos of the past. Just as the Rhinos had done in 1998, Puerto Rico won the regular season title this year and led the league in offense and defense. The only difference is that Rochester’s famed US Open Cup run that saw them upset four Major League Soccer sides en route to the title came a year later after winning the league title. In previewing the Islanders before the semifinal series in his blog for the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Jeff DiVeronica noted that the Islanders’ 2-2 draw in Guatemala against Municipal using mostly reserves, the Islanders appear to be on par with the previous Rhinos sides. “Now THAT is impressive and should let you know that Rochester will need to be at its best for 180 minutes to stand a chance. I’m convinced now that Puerto Rico is on par with the great Rhinos teams of the late 1990s, the 1998 squad that went 30-4 in [USL-1] play and ’99 club that won the U.S. Open Cup and was league runner-up to Minnesota. Had Rochester NOT run out of gas in ’99 it would have won the double.” Looking at the numbers, the factor that has played one of the largest roles in the previous finals has been the old cliché, defense wins championships. Dating back to the first unified championship of what was then known as the APSL, the team with the better defensive ranking on the season has won the championship game or series 15 of 18 times. The better offense has won less than half with only seven titles. All seven of them, however, also had the better defense though. The better defense has won five of the last six and eight of the last 10 while the teams with better offense have dropped six of the last eight. Coming into the match leading Vancouver in both categories, the Islanders will be looking to follow the trend that has seen seven of the nine teams in the same situation raise the cup. The championship Sounders of 2005 have been the only team in the past six years to lead in both categories, a feat that has become rare since the Hershey Wildcats of 2001 lost in the final. Seattle, however, needed penalties to defeat Richmond. Seattle also needed penalties last year, coming at the expense of Puerto Rico in the semifinals, who had rallied from a 2-1 loss at home in the first leg of the series to tie the Sounders on aggregate with a 1-0 road win. The pair exchanged goals in series overtime for a 3-3 aggregate that forced the tiebreaker that fell 4-2 in Seattle’s favor. For Puerto Rico to follow the trends in winning to mark the beginning of what they hope is their championship era, they will need to get past the Whitecaps Sunday in the final. A team that ranked tied for second in defense with Puerto Rico’s fellow Champions League participant Montreal, whom Vancouver eliminated last week in the semifinals. In their three meetings earlier this season, the Islanders were a mere one goal better than Vancouver with a 0-0 draw on the road August 17, a 1-1 draw at home August 31 and a 1-0 victory at home September 5. The Islanders victory was the first in nine all-time meetings between the two sides. Vancouver leads the all-time series with a record of 4-1-4, including a mark of 2-0-2 at home. The Whitecaps, however, have not been able to beat Puerto Rico since posting a 3-1 road win August 4 of 2006, going 0-1-4 since. Both clubs rallied from first leg deficits in the 2008 USL-1 Semifinals last week as the home sides continued to remain unbeaten through 10 matches in the postseason. Vancouver rallied from a 1-0 hole to down Montreal 2-1 and Puerto Rico topped Rochester 3-2 in series overtime, erasing a two-goal difference from their opener in Rochester. Since their semifinal victories, Puerto Rico saw additional action Wednesday with a Champions League match on the road against Mexican champion Santos Laguna, whom they defeated 3-1 in the first match in Puerto Rico. The group leaders suffered their first defeat in six games in the competition, falling 3-0 with numerous reserves in action. Josh Hansen, the only former Whitecap (2007) on the Islanders squad, was sent off in the second half as they trailed 2-0 for striking a Santos defender with his foot as he attempted a bicycle kick, securing the expected victory for the hosts. Just like the aforementioned defensive theory on winning titles, championship experience is has long been touted a determining factor in sports finals. Among the players on the two clubs, nine players have previously played in a USL-1 Final. While Vancouver, not surprisingly, boasts seven of those players in their lineup, the Islanders will likely only utilize league MVP Finalist Jonathan Steele on the field as Nigel Henry, who played for the 2001 Wildcats, will remain in Puerto Rico and miss the game due to the head injuries sustained in Rochester a week ago. Players From Previous Finals Jeff Clarke (Vancouver): Clarke was a member of the 2006 championship Whitecaps, playing the full match. Nigel Henry (Puerto Rico): Out with injury for Sunday, Henry was a member of the 2001 finalist Hershey Wildcats along with current Whitecap Eduardo Sebrango, playing the full match. Omar Jarun (Vancouver): Jarun was a member of the 2007 finalist Atlanta Silverbacks, playing the full match. Steve Kindel (Vancouver): Kindel was a member of the 2006 championship Whitecaps, playing the full match. Geordie Lyall (Vancouver): Lyall was a member of the 2006 championship Whitecaps, playing the full match. Martin Nash (Vancouver): Nash is in his fourth championship, second in three years with Vancouver, having played 86 minutes in the 2006 Final. Nash helped guide Rochester to the 2001 championship against the Wildcats of current teammate Eduardo Sebrango, registering an assist in 88 minutes of play in the 2-0 victory over Hershey. It was the second straight after providing two assists in the 2000 title game against Minnesota. Eduardo Sebrango (Vancouver): Sebrango has helped lead four different teams to the final, playing in two and winning one, the 2000 championship with Rochester alongside current teammate Martin Nash. While with Hershey a year later he missed the final due to injury. He missed the 2006 final due to suspension. Jonathan Steele (Puerto Rico): Steele was a member of the 2006 finalist Rochester Rhinos, seeing limited action off the bench for 28 minutes. Alfredo Valente (Vancouver): Valente was a member of the 2006 championship Whitecaps, starting and playing 59 minutes.
Flashback: Puerto Rico's first win Islanders have come a long way from 0-10-3 start in 2004 Thursday, October 9, 2008 TAMPA, FL - When United Soccer Leagues announced its expansion to Puerto Rico in November of 2003, it was a groundbreaking idea that had an unknown future given the state of the sport on and off the field in the United States territory, which operates as its own federation within the FIFA umbrella. But the object of the league’s move to Puerto Rico was to expand the diversity of the league and give the island an opportunity to build the sport in Puerto Rico much like many of USL’s other franchises have throughout the United States and Canada. It was not an easy start for the Islanders, who were winless through their first 13 games with a mark of 0-10-3. They had opened with a 1-0 loss against Toronto in their league and home debut, falling in overtime on an own goal. It took four games to finally earn their first point, when they held on for a 2-2 draw after leading Syracuse by two goals. Then two more draws in their next five gave way to a four game losing streak before the watershed moment finally came in their final game of the first half of the campaign. With the defending champion Charleston Battery visiting Puerto Rico at the renovated former baseball ground Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, the Islanders edged the Battery 1-0 in front of a crowd of 2,174 for their first-ever win June 15, 2004. The Battery had the better of the early exchanges in the game and midfielder Aleksey Korol forced a diving save from Islanders goalkeeper Mike Ueltschey in the third minute. Korol had been released on the right side of the box by a good through ball from midfielder Kevin Jackson. Puerto Rico also created chances and defender Chris Gores managed to get a header on target in the 26th minute. Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock was well positioned and made the save falling to his left. Puerto Rico scored the decisive goal in the 41st minute. Defender Alexis Rivera surged forward down the left flank. He played a short one-two pass with the wide midfielder then whipped a cross in from the far side. Forward Mauricio Salles met the ball at the near post and directed his header past Hudock into the goal. After the break Charleston Head Coach Chris Ramsey injected three new strikers into the game as the Battery looked for the equalizer. Substitute forward Gabe Valencia headed over the bar in the 51st minute then had a right-footed shot saved two minutes later. At the other end Hudock denied midfielder Juninho DaSilva with a diving stop in the 68th minute to preserve Charleston a lifeline. The Battery continued to attack and with two minutes left Korol managed to lift a cross into the box from wide on the right, however Valencia's snap-header missed just wide of the right upright and the Islanders’ march towards the unthinkable accomplishments they have made recently was begun. The victory cued a tremendous run by the Islanders, who went on to post a record of 4-3-3 over the next 10 games before finishing the season on a disappointing four-game losing streak. Since the conclusion of the campaign though, Puerto Rico has yet to suffer a losing season in four campaigns and has now reached the postseason three straight years.
Top USL-1 honors announced Puerto Rico’s Steele earns league’s MVP award USL News Release Saturday, October 11, 2008 VANCOUVER, BC – United Soccer Leagues announced the league’s top honors for the 2008 USL First Division season honoring Charleston’s Osvaldo Alonso as the Rookie of the Year and a trio from Puerto Rico with Colin Clarke as Coach of the Year, Cristian Arrieta as Defender of the Year and Jonathan Steele as Most Valuable Player. Puerto Rico’s achievements on the field led to unprecedented success in the honors announced at the USL-1 Championship banquet as the Islanders became the first team in league history to take home three of the four honors, surpassing numerous teams who had only received two. The exception among the honors unveiled Saturday was Cuban defector Osvaldo Alonso of the Charleston Battery, who received the Rookie of the Year award. Alonso cemented his role in the Battery’s starting line-up after impressive performances during the pre-season Carolina Challenge Cup and went on to contribute four goals and two assists in 23 regular season games for the Battery. Alonso defected from the Cuban national team last July during the 2007 Gold Cup. A native of San Cristóbal, Cuba, Alonso is the former captain of the Cuban Olympic team, was capped 17 times for the full national team and scored 2 goals. Arrieta burst onto the scene in his first year in the league to earn the Defender of the Year award after several seasons in the lower divisions of Italian soccer. Arrieta helped lead the club to the best defensive ranking in the league with only 23 goals allowed on the year. The Italian-American, however, contributed just as much to the club offensively with a team leading seven goals, only two coming by way of penalties. He would go on to add an eighth with the semifinal series-winner against Rochester. Leading the squad was another new addition in Jonathan Steele, who became only the second midfielder to ever earn the league’s Most Valuable Player honor. An award that has traditionally gone to forwards and goalkeepers, Steele joined Seattle Sounders veteran Leighton O’Brien (2002) as the only midfielders to earn the league’s top award. On his fourth club in five years, Steele find found his stride to help guide the Islanders to the regular season championship and the league’s top offense while finishing as the league’s Assist Leader with 11 on the season in 26 games. He also chipped in for two goals and finished the year tied for 13th in points. Although he helped lead the expansion RailHawks to the postseason last year, Steele only recorded one assist in 19 games for Carolina. Steele joined the RailHawks after spending two seasons with Rochester after making his professional debut with Syracuse in 2004. The man that orchestrated Puerto Rico’s rise to the top by bringing in the new players and developing players like Arrieta and Steele into the league’s elite was Colin Clarke, who was recognized as the USL-1 Coach of the Year. Clarke’s second season with the Islanders started off on the wrong foot with three losses in the first four matches, but they only lost three more times over the course of the remaining 26 games while moving to the top of the table and claiming the Commissioner’s Cup as the regular season champions with a record of 15-6-9 and the league’s top offense and defense. Included in the club’s impressive campaign are two currently running unbeaten streaks. Since their 1-0 loss July 4 in Miami, the Islanders have not dropped a game on the road, going 7-0-4 with five straight immediately following the initial loss before returning home. They finished the regular season unbeaten in their last 12 (6-0-6) league games dating back to their 2-1 home loss to Seattle August 1, all while participating successfully in the CONCACAF Champions League. The 12-game unbeaten streak ranked third-best in league history behind the runs of 13 by the 2000 Richmond Kickers and the 1998 Rochester Rhinos, who also hold the best consecutive regular season unbeaten streak at 16 extending off the close of the 1997 campaign.
PR_Islanders http://twitter.com/PR_Islanders Live updates during today's USL Championship game between Puerto Rico Islanders vs Vacouver Whitecaps.
Yes, congratulations to Vancouver. They played better than us tonight. Now on with the Concacaf Champions League!
Very disappointing, but so it goes, Congrats to Vancouver, who came out and played hard. Still upset that this match wasn't played in Puerto Rico, but so it go. Very good season overall, and still alive in the Champions League