Sevilla PR spoils USSF Div2 Champions Home Welcoming Party

Just after winning the 2010 USSF Div2 Championship this past Saturday in North Carolina, the Puerto Rico Islanders returned to the field last night to play Sevilla FC-PR, in what was each teams’ opening match in the 2010 SuperCopa DirectTV of the Puerto Rico Soccer League (PRSL).

The SuperCopa is this year’s qualifying tournament for the Puerto Rico spots at the 2011 Caribbean Football Union’s (CFU) Caribbean Clubs Cup, which in turn is the qualifying tournament for the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League (CCL).

The Islanders won the 2010 CFU Caribbean Clubs Cup back in May, and played in the 2010-11 CCL where they dismantled the L.A. Galaxy in the preliminary stage; routed the Salvadorian Champs (FAS) and came from behind to defeat the Mexican Reigning Champion Toluca at Bayamón in the Groups Stage, only to succumb on their last match in Honduras to Olimpia, who moved on to the CCL Quarterfinals.

Prior to their 2010 SuperCopa debut, the USSF Div 2 Champion Islanders were presented with their trophy to the crowd at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium.

The Islanders started the match against Sevilla with a mixed starters-bench lineup: Cody Laurendy (GK), Alexis Rivera, Anthony Allison, Edwin Miranda, Jonathan Faña, Salem, Logan Emory, Henry, Osei Telesford, Richard Martinez, Shaka Bangura

Newly acquired (for the SuperCopa) Carlos Morales (#25) substituted an injured Bangura at the begining of the 2nd half. Another new orange acquisition, Mohamad Mashriqi (#27) was also available on the bench last night.

After a scoreless 1st half, the Islanders opened up the scoreboard on the 71st minute with a goal from Anthony Allison after a free kick bounced back to the forward, who headed the ball into the Sevillian net.

The game was almost over with a win for the Islanders, when with only a few seconds to go in the 2-minutes stoppage period, Logan Emory commited a desperate foul inside of the box on Sevilla’s Puerto Rican National Chris Megaloudis, who had got through the Islanders defense.

Referee Javier Santos immediately pointed for the penalty kick, and what happened next became very confusing.

As the players were lining up and getting ready for the penalty kick, just before Referee Santos whistled for the kick, the Puerto Rican marksman Megadoulis shot the kick, which the Islanders backup keeper Laurendy guessed correctly jumping to his right, blocking the shot to preserve the 1-0 for the Islanders.

But as per FIFA rules, Referee Santos called for the penalty kick to be replayed, because technically (despite all the players being ready in their positions) he had not whistled to start the penalty play.

Megadoulis took his second penalty shot to the left side of Laurendy (who again jumped to his right) and scored the tying alajuelazo for the 2008 PRSL Champ Sevilla FC-PR to earn the draw against the newly crowned USA 2nd Division champions.

Some of the missing Islanders on the bench last night included: Kendall Jagdeosingh and Keon Daniel, who were both playing for the Trinidad & Tobago National team in the Digicel CUp; and Christopher Nurse who was playing for Guyana in the same tournament.

The Islanders next game in the 2010 SuperCopa will be on the road against PR United of Aguada on November 7 at 8pm.

Category: 2010 SuperCopa, Puerto Rico Islanders, Sevilla FC Puerto Rico, alajuelazo