US Soccer/USSF D-2 Pro League
Puerto Rico Islanders claimed the 2010 USSF D-2 Pro League championship title with a 3-1 aggregate victory after a 1-1 second-leg draw with Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, on Saturday evening.
The Islanders came into the match holding a 2-0 advantage after scoring twice in the first leg last Sunday at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. No club had come back from a two-goal deficit in the 2010 playoffs, and the RailHawks were unable to reverse that trend on home soil, as first half goals for each team would be the only scoring on the night.
The match opened with a quick, physical pace, as both sides were determined to stamp their presence on the decisive second leg. It would only take seven minutes for the first breakthrough to come from the foot of Sandy Gbandi, who also scored Puerto Rico’s first goal in Bayamon. After striker Kendall Jagdeosingh did well to keep a cross from the left alive in the box, Gbandi collected and cut inside a sliding defender to provide just enough space to slot his shot past Carolina goalkeeper Eric Reed.
The quick goal deflated the home crowd, knowing that their side was down 3-0 on aggregate and only a heroic effort could bring the RailHawks back.
The RailHawks, however, did not disappoint and equalized when Tom Heinemann scored in the 11th minute. The big forward got on the end of a Floyd Franks cross from the right side to nod past Bill Gaudette in net for Puerto Rico. The goal breathed life back into Carolina, allowing them to focus on their original task - coming back from a two-goal disadvantage on home turf.
Carolina would come close again just moments later when a Heinemann cross was almost sliced into the Puerto Rico net by a recovering defender. The rest of the first half failed to produce another scoring chance, as the match sputtered in midfield. Malta international Etienne Barbara was a constant menace in attack for Carolina, but Puerto Rico was determined not to let another defensive miscue let their opponents back into the match, keeping numbers behind the ball.
The second half opened much as the first half closed. Barbara and Heinemann continued to pressure the Puerto Rico defense, but could not break them down in the final third.
By the 75th minute, Puerto Rico was content to absorb the Carolina attack and sit in defense with a two-goal advantage. The frantic opening pace of the game was taking a toll on the players in the final 15 minutes as RailHawks head coach Martin Rennie tried to inject pace into the game through his substitutions.
The Islanders had a chance to seal the encounter in the 88th minute when forward Nick Addlery was brought down in the box by Carolina defender Brad Rusin, who was shown a red card after match referee Fotis Bazakos pointed to the spot. Addlery stepped up to take the kick himself, but was denied by Reed and the left post, as the Carolina keeper got his fingertips to the ball to deflect it off the woodwork.
