BAYAMON, PR- Another game, more pain.
After getting their first shutout of the year, Puerto Rico again suffered a big defeat, this time at the hands of the Richmond Kickers by a score of 3-0 in the A-League match played at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico this Saturday, May 15th.
During most of the first half, Puerto Rico actually dominated the action. Players like Diego Deering and Martin Zapata took control of the sideline areas and the team generated various scoring chances, mostly by Islander striker Maurcio. However, the goal did not come for Puerto Rico despite all efforts.
Once again the lack of punch came back to bite Puerto Rico. In stoppage time, Richmond was the team taking the 1-0 lead on a goal by Matthew Delicâte with an assist from Joey Worthen.
It appeared as though the Islander defense had a costly loss of concentration in this play, since it came after the announced minute of stoppage time had expired. The referee, Tony Russo, deemed appropriate to let the Richmond offensive play end before calling the end of the half. While the referee can (and usually does) let a play continue like that, the Islanders apparently were not amused.
Richmond came out in the second half determined to maintain the lead and intensified its defense. Meanwhile, Puerto Rico moved forward in search of the equalizer to no avail, mostly because the Kickers piled up players in the back, closing out any open lanes.
The Kickers broke the game wide open in the 74th minute when David Hayes scored the team’s second goal after intercepting a clearance by Islander goalkeeper Eduardo Memendi and shooting from about forty feet out. Memendi made a costly mistake by clearing toward the center of the field trying to play the ball, instead of clearing it away toward the sidelines.
An already intense game became even more so as Puerto Rico tried a comeback and tensions between the teams increased… and so did the yellow cards. Russo showed Joseph Toal of the Islanders two of them in a span of five minutes leaving the team with ten men.
In the 87th minute Worthen beat Memendi in a counterattack to score the third and final goal for the Kickers.
Now, the Puerto Rico Islanders have to face defending champions Charleston Battery and the Rochester Raging Rhinos in the next four games. The Isles need a win fast yet it looks like it may take a while considering the next opponents.
Nevertheless the Islanders have added organizer-type midfielder Ricardo Alcerro and Puerto Rican Francisco Quiles to the roster, while still waiting for a Haitian striker and for a player on loan from the Metrostars of MLS. The team hopes the reinforcements will help immediately.
Help is what Puerto Rico needs a lot… and fast.
RK: Pascale, Luzak, Knight, Fox, T. Williams, R. Williams, Simms, Worthen, Hayes (Lekics 75'), Delicâte (Norkus 84'), Jeffrey (Cephas 68')
PR: Memendi, Garay, Rosa, Gores, A. Rivera, Deering, Ortiz, Toal, Juninho, Zapata (H. Rivera 75'), Mauricio
RK 1-0 45+1' Delicâte
RK 2-0 74' Hayes
RK 3-0 87' Worthen
Yellow Cards:
RK: Luzak, Hayes, T. Williams
PR: Garay, Juninho, Zapata, Toal (2)
Red Cards:
Toal (PR) for 2nd yellow
Att.: 2,059
