The Puerto Rico Men’s soccer team entered the match one victory away from the group stage and meet Panama at the sold-out Red Bull Arena on June 30th. For Puerto Rico, it would be just another soccer giant on their way to the group stage round.
Martinique has plenty of experience on the international stage to not get caught up in any traps. They know they’re the heavily favored side but that won’t diminish their efforts against a hungry Puerto Rico side who has a lot still to prove on the international stage.
Photo Credit: CONCACAF.COM
The start of the game was pushed back due to lightning delays in the previous match played between Guyana and Guadeloupe under the rain-soaked skies of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
The first half would see both teams testing the waters against each other to start and then each side would get some chances to open the scoring but get denied of such glory in the first half.
El Huracan Azul was up to the challenge tonight refusing to break under the onslaught displayed by the more experienced Martinique squad. Martinique threw a lot at the inexperienced team from Puerto Rico in hopes that their spirit would break, and the floodgates would open up like the skies above the pitch. It was Puerto Rico though who had the best chance in the first half when Puerto Rico’s Gerald Diaz came very close to breaking the deadlock in the 45th minute, with his low shot pushed aside by the fully outstretched fingertips of Martinique GK Yannis Clementia.
Puerto Rico would see its clean sheet streak come to an end after over 140 minutes of stellar defensive play by the young squad in the preliminary rounds. Martinique’s Brighton Labeau finally broke through in the 52nd minute. A nicely placed header past Serrano put Martinique in front 1-0. The goal was Labeau’s second of the tournament.
The Puerto Rico side would stay feisty to the amazement of Martinique who expected them to lay over and take defeat. In the 67′ on a strange play that saw Martinique defender Jonathan Rivierez direct a powerful header towards his own goal, however, Clementia made a fine save to prevent disaster. Then Puerto Rico’s Diaz had a golden chance inside the six-yard box in the 82′ but was unable to make solid contact.
Unfortunately, in the end, it was Martinique clinging to survival, as Puerto Rico threw everything forward. But their momentum was thwarted after Juan O’Neill’s red card in the 85th minute, reducing El Huracan to 10 men. With Puerto Rico going all in sending their keeper Serrano up front on a last-ditch corner kick effort, Martinique’s Kevin Fortune would slot home an empty netter in the 95th minute to secure the win.
The great run by the team from Puerto Rico is now done. The squad gained a ton of experience against some tough competition this year. The future is bright for El Huracan Azul, they have nothing to hang their heads about. They fought to the very last minute and came close several times to tying a strong Martinique side.
Photo Credit: Concacaf.com
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