News

Puerto Rico Islanders vs. Isidro Metapán

Thursday, September 27, 2012 – 8:00 PM EDT

Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium

Bayamón, Puerto Rico

Webcast: CONCACAF.com

The Puerto Rico Islanders play their final match of the current edition of the CONCACAF Champions League Thursday night against Isidro Metapán at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium. The Islanders have already been eliminated from the tournament following their last match, a 0-0 stalemate at home to the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

While the scoreless tie wasn’t enough to keep the Islanders alive in the tournament, it meant the Islanders would bow out the competition having picked up at least a point. Just weeks before, the Galaxy put four unanswered goals past the Islanders in a 4-0 victory at the Home Depot Center.

Isidro Metapán defeated a shorthanded Islanders side 3-1 in the opening match of Group 5 on August 1 in Metapán, El Salvador. The hosts’ Nicolás Muñoz was the star of the show, scoring a hat-trick against the 10-man visitors.

The teams have also met in the preliminary round of the previous year’s edition. Following a 2-0 defeat in El Salvador, the Islanders returned home to win the match in Puerto Rico by three goals to one, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3, but ultimately missing out on the group stage by the away goals rule.

With nothing to play for except pride, Head Coach Adrian Whitbread may decide rest some of his star players and use the match as an opportunity to give fringe players a chance. His sights are set on an all-important playoff match against Minnesota Stars FC coming just three days later.