PRSL Round-Up
Friday, December 10, 2010
USLPRO News Release
BAYAMON, P.R. – USL PRO’s River Plate Puerto Rico pulled off a huge victory in the first leg of the 2010 SuperCopa DirecTV Finals, knocking off the reigning USSF D2 champion Puerto Rico Islanders by a score of 1-0. The teams will meet again Sunday at 6 p.m. to decide the title. By reaching the finals of the Puerto Rico Soccer League tournament, both teams have booked spots in next year’s Caribbean Football Union Club Championship.
River wasted little time in putting the Islanders on their heels, with Peter Villegas finding Guillermo García Barros alone in front at the seven minute mark, and Barros giving River a 1-0 lead and silencing the Islanders fans. The Islanders began to possess the ball more after falling behind, but River stayed dangerous via the counter-attack.
The Islanders were given a golden chance to equalize in the 20th minute when referee Jose Carlos Rivera awarded them a questionable penalty.
Joshua Hansen stepped up and fired to the left, but River keeper Mariano Graziano was up to the task and knocked the shot away, demoralizing the Islanders.
River picked up its play in the second half, and though both teams had chances the Islanders weren’t able to find the equalizer. As the game wore on and the frustration increased for the Islanders, the rough play resulted in a shower of yellow cards for both teams.
SUPERCOPA DIRECTV
Semifinals
River Plate Puerto Rico defeats Sevilla FC Puerto Rico 2-1 on aggregate
Puerto Rico Islanders defeat Mayaguez 4-1 on aggregate
Final
Thursday, 12/9 – River Plate Puerto Rico 1, Puerto Rico Islanders 0
Sunday, 12/12 – River Plate Puerto Rico vs. Puerto Rico Islanders, 6 p.m.
(River Plate leads, 1-0)
