Monday, August 24, 2009
BAYAMON, PR – The Puerto Rico Islanders hit the road once again for their second match of the CONCACAF Champions League group stage to face Deportivo Saprissa in Costa Rica Tuesday evening. The match will be carried live on Fox Soccer Channel at 10:00 pm ET.
The Islanders are coming off a 2-0 defeat to the Crew in the first group match in Columbus last Tuesday after shutting out Toronto FC in both matches of their Preliminary Round series.
In last year’s edition of the tournament, Puerto Rico faced another Costa Rican power, LD Alajuelense, in the Preliminary Round and immediately attracted the spotlight in the event with a stunning series victory. The Islanders made their international tournament debut by opening the series with a shocking 1-1 draw on the road August 27 against Alajuelense with Osei Telesford equalizing in the 63rd minute. In the return leg, the visitors got on the board first five minutes in, but an 87th minute tally from Kendall Jagdeosingh leveled the score with Taiwo Atieno, now in Rochester, providing the winner two minutes later.
Last week, Saprissa fell 2-0 on the road to last year’s tournament finalists Cruz Azul, who eliminated Puerto Rico in the semifinals in penalty kicks.
After suffering the Champions League defeat last Thurday, Saprissa dropped their first points of the young season in a scoreless draw at home against 1-1-2 Universidad de Costa Rica to move to 3-0-1 on the campaign, remaining tied for first.
Group C Schedule / Results
8.18 – Puerto Rico 0 :: 2 Columbus
8.19 – Saprissa 0 :: 2 Cruz Azul
8.25 – Puerto Rico @ Saprissa
8.26 – Columbus @ Cruz Azul
9.15 – Cruz Azul @ Puerto Rico
9.16 – Columbus @ Saprissa
9.22 – Saprissa @ Puerto Rico
9.23 – Cruz Azul @ Columbus
9.24 – Saprissa @ Columbus
9.29 – Puerto Rico @ Cruz Azul
10.20 – Columbus @ Puerto Rico
10.20 – Cruz Azul @ Saprissa
