Thursday, October 9, 2008
TAMPA, FL – When United Soccer Leagues announced its expansion to Puerto Rico in November of 2003, it was a groundbreaking idea that had an unknown future given the state of the sport on and off the field in the United States territory, which operates as its own federation within the FIFA umbrella.
But the object of the league’s move to Puerto Rico was to expand the diversity of the league and give the island an opportunity to build the sport in Puerto Rico much like many of USL’s other franchises have throughout the United States and Canada.
It was not an easy start for the Islanders, who were winless through their first 13 games with a mark of 0-10-3. They had opened with a 1-0 loss against Toronto in their league and home debut, falling in overtime on an own goal. It took four games to finally earn their first point, when they held on for a 2-2 draw after leading Syracuse by two goals.
Then two more draws in their next five gave way to a four game losing streak before the watershed moment finally came in their final game of the first half of the campaign.
With the defending champion Charleston Battery visiting Puerto Rico at the renovated former baseball ground Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium, the Islanders edged the Battery 1-0 in front of a crowd of 2,174 for their first-ever win June 15, 2004.
The Battery had the better of the early exchanges in the game and midfielder Aleksey Korol forced a diving save from Islanders goalkeeper Mike Ueltschey in the third minute. Korol had been released on the right side of the box by a good through ball from midfielder Kevin Jackson.
Puerto Rico also created chances and defender Chris Gores managed to get a header on target in the 26th minute. Charleston goalkeeper Dusty Hudock was well positioned and made the save falling to his left.
Puerto Rico scored the decisive goal in the 41st minute. Defender Alexis Rivera surged forward down the left flank. He played a short one-two pass with the wide midfielder then whipped a cross in from the far side. Forward Mauricio Salles met the ball at the near post and directed his header past Hudock into the goal.
After the break Charleston Head Coach Chris Ramsey injected three new strikers into the game as the Battery looked for the equalizer. Substitute forward Gabe Valencia headed over the bar in the 51st minute then had a right-footed shot saved two minutes later.
At the other end Hudock denied midfielder Juninho DaSilva with a diving stop in the 68th minute to preserve Charleston a lifeline.
The Battery continued to attack and with two minutes left Korol managed to lift a cross into the box from wide on the right, however Valencia's snap-header missed just wide of the right upright and the Islanders’ march towards the unthinkable accomplishments they have made recently was begun.
The victory cued a tremendous run by the Islanders, who went on to post a record of 4-3-3 over the next 10 games before finishing the season on a disappointing four-game losing streak. Since the conclusion of the campaign though, Puerto Rico has yet to suffer a losing season in four campaigns and has now reached the postseason three straight years.
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