The Islanders came out strong the first 20 minutes of the game. Five minutes into the game, Scott Jones crossed a wonderful ball to Nick Addlery who headed it to Nuñez, but the visiting goalkeeper Nick Platter was able to get a hand in Nuñez attack. Sandy Gbandi was there for the rebound and this time it was the DC United’s defensive line that was able to block the shot. Noah Delgado had two other header attempts stopped by Platter.

It took DC United almost half an hour to finally test Puerto Rican goalkeeper Bill Gaudette. At the end of the 1st half both sides were scoreless.

The 2nd half was pretty much all DC United’s. On the 57th minute Christian Gómez opened the game’s score on a free shot to the right of Bill Gaudette. Clyde Simms shot for goal on the 66th minute and the visitor’s were now ahead 2-0.

On the 89th minute Jonathan Steele was fouled inside of the box, and Cristian Arrieta scored the ensuing penalty shot, to cut the DC United’s lead in half, but too late to change the games’ result .

The Islanders finished with a 2-1-2 (W-T-L) overall result in the pre-season (1-1-2 against MLS teams). The Puerto Ricans now turn their attention to CD Marathon from Honduras in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals.

February 20, 2009

The Puerto Rico Islanders will face DC United this Saturday 21st of February at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón. DC United traveled to Puerto Rico on Wednesday and will spend a week as a part of their preseason camp for the 2009 MLS season.

United’s entire team made the trip including Brazilian Luciano Emilio, Bolivian Jaime Moreno, and Argentinean Christian Gomez.

DC United is the US team with the most MLS Cups won with 4, and in 1998 they became the first American club to win the CONCACAF Champions Cup. They are also the sole US representative in any CONMEBOL competition, having played in the 2005 and 2007 Copa Sudamericana.

“It will be a great game. We are here to win, nothing else. That’s our mindset. It is not an official league game, but we want to win. It will not be an easy game for my team, but rather a very competitive one” said DC United Head Coach Tom Soehn.

DC United is very happy with having part of their preseason in the island of Puerto Rico. “Training in Puerto Rico has been excellent for us. The weather and atmosphere are the perfect conditions since it is snowing back home. We would like to be back in Puerto Rico again for next year’s preseason” said Head Coach Tom Soehn

The Islanders game against DC United will be their last preparatory game before facing CD Marathon from Honduras in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League Quarterfinals.

The following returning players were present at the practice: Bill Gaudette (2008 USL Goalie of the Year), Jonathan Steele (2008 USL MVP), Christian Arrieta (2008 USL Defender of the Year), Noah Delgado, Alexis Rivera, Andres Cabrero, Daniel Ojeda, John Krause, Sandy Gbandi, Nigel Henry, William Yomby, James Marcelin, Osei Telesford and Justin Myers.

The following new faces (all with previous USL experience) joined the team in the first day of practice: Nick Addlery (Vancouver Whitecaps), Martin Nuñez (Carolina Railhawks) and Sean Fraser (Miami FC). Former MLS Red Bulls’ Kevin Mesa, and two “imported” newcomers, Kevon Villaroel (Trinidad & Tobago) and Nicolas Torres (Argentina), were also at the practice.

Returning Islander players missing at the practice yesterday were Petter Villegas (arrives today), Kendall Jagdeosingh (away playing with the Trinidad & Tobago National Team), and Fabrice Noël.

As for the preseason games, the quality of the 2009 opponents will be nothing like 2008’s. In last year’s preseason the Islanders (in preparation of their May encounter with the San Juan Jabloteh from Trinidad & Tobago to define the 3rd Caribbean team to play in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League) defeated the University of Central Florida Knights (6-1), the USA Under-17 team (6-0) and Florida’s PDL team Panama City Pirates (1-0).

This year the Islanders (in preparation of their February-March encounter with Marathon from Honduras in the quarterfinals of the inaugural CONCACAF League of Champions) will face four MLS teams in the preseason: the Chicago Fire (Feb 7), the 2008 Western Conference Champion New York Red Bulls (Feb 9), the 2008 MLS Champion Columbus Crew (Feb 12) and DC United (Feb 21). The Islanders will also face the Bulls from the University of South Florida on Feb 13.

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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