2-1 Islanders victory and back at the top of the table

June 30, 2009

06-27-09-PR-CAR

With 2 unanswered goals, the Islanders came back from a 1-nil deficit to earn the first victory of their current away-stretch of 8 straight matches on the road.

Puerto Rico has historically dominated the previous matches played between these two sides. The 2-1 victory for the Islanders marked the first time the Carolina RailHawks have ever lost a league match in which they scored the game’s first goal. The 2-1 result, which leaves the RailHawks winless over their last five matches, was also just the second goal the RailHawks have ever scored against the Islanders. The Islanders have won 5 of the 6 meetings between these two teams, with one match ending in a 1-1 draw back in July 22, 2007.

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Posted by KVD

Islanders downed in Charleston

June 30, 2009

06-25-09-PR-CHB

With a final score of 1-0, the Charleston Battery beat the Puerto Rico Islanders for only the third time in club history. After  losing two straight games in Puerto Rico, Charleston came out with a bit more determination and luck.

If you saw the previous two games that took place in Bayamon, you probably noticed that the games were all very similar in nature. A lot of midfield action with strong performances by the either clubs’ defenses. The Islanders looked like the strongest side in the three encounters but with a bit of luck and a great performance by their Goalkeeper, Charleston came out with the 3 points.

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Posted by KVD

Back from North Carolina

June 28, 2009
Foreign Legion supporters with a some of the Islanders players

Foreign Legion supporters with a some of the Islanders players

Quick update:

Just got back from my roadtrip with the Islanders Foreign Legion. We had a great showing at the RailHawks’ home.

Will be back soon with updates on the Charleston and Carolina games – as well as the USL-1 week review.

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Posted by KVD

Islanders fall against Charleston

June 25, 2009

Another 1-0 score, but this time it was the Charleston Battery who emerged victorious. The Islanders looked like the better team on the field but could not get the result they wanted.

More on this later…

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Posted by KVD

Rival revealed: PR Islanders vs Toronto FC in Champions League

June 24, 2009
By: Argexx from the Islanders forum

By: Argexx from the Islanders forum

Toronto FC needed to win by at least 4 goals against Montreal to win the Canadian Nutrilite Championship and secure their ticket to the CONCACAF Champions League. (CCL) With a 6-1 score, Toronto achieved what many thought impossible.

Along with their first ever trophy, the MLS club received a spot in the CCL as Canada’s representative. Toronto FC will now face the Puerto Rico Islanders in the preliminary round of this year’s CCL. The winner of this preliminary match-up will move into the CCL’s Group C along with: Columbus Crew (USA), Saprissa (Costa Rica), and the winner of the Cruz Azul (Mexico)-Herediano (Costa Rica) series.

In last year’s CCL, MLS clubs performed disappointingly but this is another year and Toronto FC is not just another team. A relatively young team, Toronto FC has struggled to make an impact in the MLS. But if there is one thing that sets this team apart, it would be passionate fans and a desire to win. I think that MLS clubs in general are pretty accessible when matched up against the Islanders, particularly if the team can play like they did last year but of all the MLS teams in the competition, I think Toronto FC could be the most dangerous precisely because of that desire to win. While many MLS teams could give less than 100% in the CCL, Toronto FC is sure to come out with guns blazing looking to continue into the group stage.

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Posted by KVD

Match-up revealed, dates set – time for some Champions League

June 24, 2009

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Earlier this month, CONCACAF announced this year’s match-ups for the 2009 edition of the Champions League (CCL). Last year, the Puerto Rico Islanders made waves in the region by going all the way to the CCL semi-finals and missing out on a ticket to the Final by going down against Mexico’s Cruz Azul in a penalty shootout.

According to CONCACAF, the first edition of the CCL was a success with more than half a million spectators coming out to watch their teams play. Atlante was crowned champion earlier this year and now it’s time to move on.

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Posted by KVD

Match Preview: PR Islanders vs Charleston Battery

June 24, 2009

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Thursday night at 8pm the Puerto Rico Islanders will be facing the Charleston Battery – the match will be broadcast live through Fox Soccer Channel.

Wait, what? Some confusion could be in order, seeins as how the Islanders have faced the Battery in their two last matches – but I assure you, it’s not mistake. The Islanders and the Battery will face each other for the third time in a row, the difference is that this time the match will take place in Charleston and also that the Islanders come in as the top team in the USL-1.

There’s not much new to say about this matchup. Expect to see some strong action in the midfield and the respective defensive sectors. Also, Charleston is sure to come out hard on the attack looking to get some points against the Islanders. The Battery is clearly a strong team but the Islanders are coming into the match with some great momentum.

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Posted by KVD

Two victories, Two shutouts, One top spot

June 23, 2009


It only took 2 goals in 180 minutes of play to silence the questions surrounding the Islanders and send the team to the top of the USL-1 table. Granted, the USL has some funky scheduling but still – the standings at the moment say Puerto Rico is #1.

In last Saturday’s game the Islanders showed proper ball management, aggressiveness, organization, and most importantly – some good old-fashioned confidence. Overall, the match was very similar to the one on Thursday night, a lot of midfield action and some very tight defenses. If the Islanders had dominated the first match, they certainly proved to be the stronger side on Saturday.

The first half ended 0-0 but the Islanders kept getting closer and closer to the rival’s net. Puerto Rico had 8 shots in that first half compared to Charleston’s 1. Unfortunately for the home side, the Battery held on for the first 45 minutes.

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Posted by KVD

1-0: Islanders win for the second time this week against Charleston

June 20, 2009
Thanks to BoriQa from Islanders @TheOffside

Thanks to BoriQa from Islanders @TheOffside

With another score of 1-0, the Islanders beat the Charleston Battery on Saturday night and took 6 points from this week’s double-header.

The Islanders are now in the #1 spot in the USL standings.

More on this match soon…

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Posted by KVD

Islanders break Battery’s undefeated streak

June 20, 2009

Charleston Islanders 4RTZ

With a 1-0 score, the Puerto Rico Islanders handed the Charleston Battery their first loss of the season.

Just as expected, the Thursday game between the Battery and the Islanders was heavily concentrated on defense and holding the ball. The match turned into a battle in the midfield with few opportunities for either side to get on the scoreboard. With possession going back and forth, and not much else happening – the visiting side was effective in slowing the pace of the game.

Offensively, the Islanders had 4 shots to the Battery’s 3 but the visiting side created the most dangerous plays during the first half.

The second half was very similar to the first one even with the Islanders pushing forward and actively looking for the goal. Again, the Islanders sent in more shots but the Battery had the closest opportunities.

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Posted by KVD

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