News about trip to Argentina – MLS Friendlies

By: BoriQa | December 7th, 2008

Islanders’ Vice-President Jorge Pierluisi informed us today that the team’s management met with Colin Clarke on Saturday (December 6th) to discuss the findings from his talent seeking trip to Argentina. The “General” identified three potential players in Argentina that he is interested in bringing to the Islanders roster for 2009.

Pierluisi also told us that the Islanders are working on a collaboration agreement with an important Soccer School in Argentina to open the possibility of player transfers between the two organizations.

“Clarke is currently discussing the option with several players from the 2008 team edition to return next year, and the Islanders’ management trusts to have a well prepared team for both the 2009 USL season as well as the next round of the CONCACAF Champions League“, said Pierluisi.

Pierluisi also said that the team is already making arrangements to play a friendly in Puerto Rico with the Toronto FC, most likely around March 14th. Additionally he said that there are advanced talks under way to hold a separate set of MLS friendlies with DC United. The DC team should be in Puerto Rico for a whole week in February before the Islanders’ Champions League quarterfinals compromise on February 26th at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón.

DC United, the winners of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup (over the USL-1 Charleston Battery), also participated in this year’s CONCACAF Champions League, but was eliminated as they finished fourth in Group A play. The Toronto FC finished 2nd in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, two points behind the USL-1 winner Montreal Impact, who is playing alongside the Islanders in the Champions League.

The Islanders finished in 2nd place in Group D play, accomplishing their mission to move on to the quarterfinals. The Impact did the same, finishing 2nd in Group C and also qualifying to the quarterfinals.

The pairings for the knockout CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals round and the route to the finals will be set with the draw on Wednesday December 10. The Islanders get to play either of the Mexican teams Atlante FC or Pumas UNAM; or the Group of Death’s (group A) winner CD Marathon from Honduras.

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