CONCACAF News -- www.concacaf.com

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

GUATEMALA CITY -- The USL First Division Puerto Rico Islanders nearly posted a stunning victory on the road against Guatemala's storied club Municipal, seeing the win disappear in the final minutes for a 2-2 CONCACAF Champions League draw as many players rested in preparation for the USL-1 playoffs.

Juan Carlos Plata’s goal in the 89th minute capped off a wild second half and gave CSD Municipal a 2-2 draw with unbeaten Puerto Rico in Group D of the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday.

The Islanders, who were playing their first Champion League game on the road, opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Fabrice Noel dribbled past three Municipal defenders and buried his shot past a diving Paulo Cesar Motta.

Municipal had an opportunity to equalize in the 17th minute but Guillermo Ramirez’s shot from about 20 yards out was smothered by Islanders back-up keeper Justin Myers, who was in for USL-1 Goalkeeper of the Year Bill Gaudette as he served a suspension for yellow cards.

Second half substitute Carlos Cesar Leguizmon equalized for Municipal in the 79th minute when he took a cross from Ramirez and turned to shoot, beating two defenders and keeper William Gaudette.

Sandy Gbandi put Puerto Rico ahead in the 88th minute, settling a cross from Scott Jones and tapping his shot past a diving Motta.

A minute later Municipal equalized again when Plata tapped his shot over the head of Myers.

With the draw, Puerto Rico remained atop Group D with seven points and extended its overall unbeaten streak to 17 games including five straight in the Champions League.

The Islanders next play in the Champions League Club Santos Laguna on 8 October. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico now turns its attention back to USL First Division league play as it embarks on a two-leg, aggregate goal Semifinal series against the Rochester Rhinos beginning at on the road Friday and concluding the at home Sunday for the right to face the winner of the all-Canadian Semifinal between Vancouver and USL’s other Champions League participant and Montreal Impact.

Municipal remained winless in Champions League™ and will play Tauro FC Thursday, 9 October.

The game originally was scheduled for Guatemala City's Estadio Mateo Flores but was moved across town to Estadio Cementos Progreso because rain and recent events at the facility made the field unplayable.