If that were not impressive enough, the Islanders also made their debut in the region’s premier club competition, the CONCACAF Champions League. And nor were they there just to make up the numbers. After eliminating Trinidad and Tobago’s San Juan Jabloteh, the Puerto Ricans were handed a preliminary-round draw against Costa Rican powerhouses Alajuelense for a place in the group stage.

Against all the odds, the Tropa Naranja drew the away leg and completed the job on home soil with two late goals, securing a Group D berth alongside Mexican champions Santos Laguna and established outfits Tauro of Panama and Municipal of Guatemala.

Those who predicted the Caribbean side would be just cannon fodder for their section rivals were once again left with egg on their faces. After recording an extraordinary 3-1 home win against the Mexicans, a hitherto unimaginable place in the knockout stages became a realistic goal, which they duly secured in Panama after a memorable 2-2 draw with Tauro.

Mexican Santos Laguna and Municipal from Guatemala tied 4-4 in the last match of the group on Thursday October 30th. With the tie Municipal ended in last place for the group with 6 points, and was unable to cause a triple-tie with the Islanders and Tauro for 2nd place. Had Municipal defeated the Mexicans, and forced the triple-tie, the Islanders would have still won the tie-breaker on account of their lead of 4 away goals among the three teams. Tauro and Municipal had 3 & 2 away goals respectively.

A total of 21,112 fans assisted to the Islanders three CONCACAF Champions League games at home in Bayamón. The 10,112 fans that witnessed the 3-1 win over Santos Laguna on September 23rd was the largest crowd for the Islanders at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium this year. 3,500 fans were present to the 2-1 win over Tauro FC on September 16th; and 7,500 fans were at the 1-0 loss to Municipal in the final home game of the year for the Islanders.

The Islanders will now have to wait for the quarter finals draw on December 10th to find out who will be their opponent in the next round in March 2009. The three potencial opponents include the Mexican teams Atlante FC or Pumas UNAM; and the winner of the last match in Group A between CD Marathon from Honduras and Deportivo Saprissa from Costa Rica on November 5th.