Friday, May 15, 2009
MACOYA, TRINIDAD — The 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League Semifinalist Puerto Rico Islanders needed overtime, but the USL First Division side booked their return ticket to the confederation’s championship tournament with a 2-0 victory over Tempete of Haiti Friday evening.
A hard earned victory against a very spirited side advances the Islanders to the Caribbean Football Union’s championship match for the first time in club history. On Sunday they will face Trinidad’s W Connection, who advanced in a national showdown with fellow Trinidadian side San Juan Jabloteh in the other semifinal.
The victory ensures Puerto Rico one of the three Caribbean berths into the 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League this fall.
Although the Islanders controlled most of the possesion they had to wait until six minutes into overtime to break down a stubborn Haitian defense. A good move down the left hand side resulted in Kendall Jagdeosingh heading home a pinpoint cross from Scott Jones.
The Islanders wrapped up the result five minutes from the end when Petter Villegas calmly finished a one-on-one chance to put the game out of reach. Fabrice Noel set up the play.
Puerto Rico was aided in overtime due to a red card send-off to a Tempete player in the 84th minute. John Krause and Sandy Gbandi earned yellow cards in the match in the 21st and 39th minutes in the match.
Puerto Rico Islanders lineup: Bill Gaudette, Scott Jones, James Marcelin (Fabrice Noel), Nigel Henry, Noah Delgado, Nicholas Addlery (Kendall Jagdeosingh), John Krause, Sandy Gbandi, Josh Hansen (Petter Villegas), Jonathan Steele, Cristian Arrieta
Subs not used: Alexis Rivera, Kyle Veris, Kevon Villaroel, Chris McClellan
