Puerto Rico Islanders Win 2010 USSF D2 Pro League Championship
Puerto Rico Islanders 1-1 Carolina RailHawks – Puerto Rico win 2010 USSF D2 Championship 3-1 aggregate.
They may have been an unlikely winner of the 2010 USSF D2 Pro League Championship, but the #8 seed Puerto Rico Islanders were certainly deserving.
The Islanders, who recorded a 9-11-10 in the regular season, used their post season and CONCACAF Champions League experience to grind out a 3-1-2 playoff record. In doing so they knocked off the likes of: the Rochester Rhinos who finished with the best regular season record, the Vancouver Whitecaps who were the #5 seed, and the Carolina RailHawks who were #2 seed and had the third best overall record in the league.
Sandy Gbandi scored early for the Islanders putting the RailHawks on their back leg. The Puerto Rico forward made his way through the Carolina defense and fired home past Eric Reed in only the 8th minute of action.
The RailHawks answered back quickly with one of their own just 2 minutes later. Floyd Franks put a ball into the box from midfield and Tom Heinemann drove a header past Islanders goalkeeper Bill Gaudette.
Puerto Rico eventually settled back into a defensive shell and absorbed Carolina’s mounting pressure. Gaudette came up with several acrobatic saves to keep the RailHawks from mounting a comeback. Final shots were in Carolina’s favor 18 to 10, but only half of those shots found the net to the Islanders 6.
“Over the two legs they were the better team,” said RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie. “They’re one of the best teams in all of CONCACAF and they always find a way to win big games. We dug ourselves a big hole in Puerto Rico and we knew coming back from two goals down would be difficult. But I’m proud of my team and the way they fought to the end.”
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I was really disappointed by the overall play of Carolina during the championship series. From what I saw, they lacked overall organization and seemed to only make runs at the goal toward the end of both matches.
I do think that a good play-off makes things interesting. In a way, it is fun to see the last team to make the play-offs win it all in the end. I wonder if PR winning USSF’s own league will make it difficult for the USSF to approve any exemption they may seek to be a part of D2 soccer in 2011–if there is a D2 league. Great work Islanders!
They also managed to win a few CCL matches this year too. What a class team.
What a night we had down in Cary on Saturday night!!! Being with my Islanders’ family. Cheering, singing, celebreating with the team. Much respect to the Cary police and stadium security for letting Islanders supporters down on the field for a good 15 minutes after the match had ended before the trophy presentation.
Being an Islanders’ supporter since our debut season in ’04, the chance to hold onto the trophy was sweet. The “afterparty” that Islanders ownership threw for the club and fans in the VIP section at some swank nightclub in downtown Raliegh was a trip. Not really my scene personally (I’m just too old, tired and boring for that scene) It was first class and it is was a great way to continue celebrating with the players, coaching staff, ownership group, directors, players families and other fans.
And most of all, it was another chance for me to try and tell every player member of the organization who travelled (and there were a LOT who travelled) how much Puerto Rico Islanders FC means to me. It was another chance to thank them.
I loved them when they only won 5 games in a season. I love them now.
I have NEVER loved a club–in any sport–like I love Puerto Rico Islanders FC.
I got no’ shame about it. Puerto Rico Islanders FC–Campeones!
La Tropa Naranja Baby!
I’m just another footsoldier for General Colin Clarke…
I also want to give maximum respect to W.Jarrett Campbell, Triangle Soccer Fanatics. The reprezent big time and W.J is a very, very cool dude.
The Railhawks are a very good team. It just happened to be our moment on those two nights.
Congrats to PR ISlanders! Great win for them!