Wednesday, September 3, 2008

BAYAMON, PR – The Puerto Rico Islanders joined fellow USL-1 side Montreal in the next stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, shocking Costa Rican powerhouse Alajuelense in a stunning rally late for a 2-1 win at home and 3-2 series aggregate result.

Having trailed for over 80 minutes on a waterlogged pitch, the Islanders never gave up, increasing their control of the match as it wore on before finally finding the back of the net in the final minutes of play.

Puerto Rico advanced to join Group D along with Santos Laguna (Mexico), Municipal (Guatemala) and Tauro (Panama), who knocked off Chivas USA of Major League Soccer 3-1 on aggregate in their Preliminary Round series. The Montreal Impact are part of Group C with Atlante (Mexico), Olimpia (Honduras) and Joe Public (T&T), who finished their series 6-1 victors on aggregate against New England with a 4-0 win in Foxboro Tuesday.

A counter in the fifth minute led to the opening strike for the visitors as Costa Rican international Carlos Castro streaked down the left flank before sending the ball into the box. A failed clearance left the ball in prime position position just outside the box that Eithel Rodriguez fired through a crowded box from 19 yards for the opening strike.

A free kick in 23rd minute found a rising Islander inside the 18 only to have the quick header directed right at the goalkeeper Wardy Alfaro.

In the 32nd minute Noah Delgado beat a defender along the right touchline and sent the ball into the box. Taiwo Atieno slipped by a defender at the edge of the six to get his foot on the ball only to see it go wide.

In the 54th minute a long ball into the box by Jonathan Steele found the head of Taiwo Atieno, who sent his attempt wide of the open target from nine yards.

Delgado had an excellent chance in the 72nd minute when a failed tackle left him all alone in the box with the ball, but he was unable to fully recover and control the it after dancing around the diving Alfaro, who attempted to smother it at his feet.

Five minutes later Atieno found himself behind the defense on a fantastic ball from Osei Telesford, but his shot went just wide again.

A mistake by Alfaro gave Puerto Rico life in the 87th minute. A slow rolling ball into the box was dived on by the goalkeeper at the corner with his momentum carrying him over the line. Kendall Jagdeosingh charged at the play and as the netminder tried to take his hand off the ball so as to not handle it outside the box, the striker stole it, turned and fired it into the far side netting from the right flank of the box.

Less than two minutes later a lofted free kick from Steele was met inside the box by the head of an Alajuelense defender, but the deflection sent the ball backwards toward goal and into the chest of Atieno, who made sure to bury this attempt as it dropped to his feet, giving the USL-1 side the shocking victory as they held on to down the 2004 CONCACAF Champions Cup winners.