The NASL's Puerto Rico Islanders tasted defeat in their opening 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League group stage match, falling 3-1 to Isidro Metapán at the Estadio Jorge Calero Suárez in Metapán, El Salvador. Nicholas Addlery opened the scoring for the Islanders with his ninth career Champions League goal, but Los Caleros mounted a comeback to win comfortably by a two-goal margin. Nicolas Munoz scored all three Metapán goals.
Puerto Rico had the better of play early and the Islanders finally broke through in the 25th minute. Nick Addlery chested down a free kick inside the area, created some space to turn on defender Ernesto Aquino and beat goalkeeper Fidel Mondragon inside the right post.
Defending the one-goal lead became difficult for Puerto Rico after the Islanders were reduced to ten men in minute 35. Jay Needham was shown a straight red card, for a for a forearm to the face of Metapán's Jorge Ramirez in an off-the-ball incident.. His ejection meant that the Islanders were forced to play 55 minutes a man down.
Isidro Metapán's Nicolas scored three goals in the second half against the ten man Islanders. Nicolas Munoz equalized for Metapan in minute 52, heading in former New York Red Bull Alfredo Pacheco's cross. Munoz then put the Salvadorans ahead, heading in Eliseo Quintanilla's corner kick from inside the area in minute 58. Munoz would cap off the scoring in the 88th sealing the victory for Metapán.
The Islanders next CONCACAF Champions League match is August 29th at the Home Depot Center against David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane and the LA Galaxy. The Islanders defeated the Galaxy 4-1 in a 2010 CONCACAF Champions League game at the Home Depot Center.
Group 5 Standings
|
|
Team |
G |
W |
D |
L |
P |
|
|
Isidro Metapán |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
|
|
LA Galaxy |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
Puerto Rico Islanders |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |