The first match day of the Puerto Rico Challenge provided stern competition and mixed results for the MLS teams participating in the preseason tournament in the U.S. commonwealth. Facing opposition from USL First Division teams, the Los Angeles Galaxy overcame a deficit to defeat the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-2, but the host Puerto Rico Islanders beat FC Dallas 1-0 in the nightcap, before a crowd of 5,321.
The Puerto Rico challenge is an initiative by the Puerto Rico Islanders to build the soccer infrastructure and support for soccer on the island, and to promote Puerto Rico as a destination.
Five goals livened up the opener. Rochester had played several USL First Division matches at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, but it had been five months since they even trained outside, and the match against the Galaxy was a stern test in their preseason. In the steamy San Juan afternoon, Rochester was ready from the outset, getting two goals in the first 15 minutes from Mike Ambersley and Matthew Delicate.
The Rhinos continued to press the attack after building the two-goal lead, but the Galaxy showed character and patience in correcting the defensive mistakes and reversing the result.
Kyle Martino started the comeback for the Galaxy after the break, pulling back a goal. Second-half substitute Chris Albright finished off a lightning-quick counterattack by evading the 'keeper outside the penalty area and then chipping the ball into the net for the tying goal. Then Nate Jaqua scored the final goal to give the Galaxy the 3-2 victory.
"We were obviously disappointed in the first half, and coach let us know he was disappointed and the guys came out with better energy in the second half," said Albright. "The Galaxy is an important club in MLS and every time we play they're going to be gunning for us and they're going to give us their best. That's something we're going to have to deal with, and we dealt with it tonight. I used to be a forward, so it was nice scoring."
"Maybe we were a little tired. It's not like we haven't beaten MLS teams before. I wanted to see some new players, but we would have run out of steam anyways," said Rochester coach Laurie Calloway.
"My main objective is getting the team ready for April 8. But if there's somebody who really impresses me here then I will take that into consideration," said Galaxy coach Frank Yallop.
FC Dallas ran on the beach in the morning and played in the evening. For the Islanders, who just finished a preparatory training camp, it was their first match of any sort in the new season.
The late arriving crowd livened up the doubleheader, played with a regular season sort of intensity. Dominic Oduro's speed with the ball at his feet put the Islanders' back line under repeated pressure early on, but the match was not one-sided.
Led by Noah Delgado, the Islanders showed good combination passing and play on the flanks, and Canadian Alen Marcina scrambled home the eventual winning goal in the 33rd minute.
Dallas pressed in the second half, but could not crack the home defense nor goalie Josh Saunders' net. Saunders came up big on a long-distance effort from Michael Dello-Russo, and also stopped Abe Thompson from point-blank range.
"The match was incredibly intense. At the 20-minute mark our tongues were hanging out, and the team has heart and great fans that helped us win. We wanted to show we could stay with Dallas, even though some of their starters sat out. We wanted to let people and the MLS and everybody know that there's soccer here in Puerto Rico, and we're on the way up," said Islanders' defender Marco Velez, captain of the Puerto Rican national team.
"We're trying different players out. It's going to be a long season and we're just starting," said former league MVP Carlos Ruiz, who did not see action but should play on Sunday.
The matches continue with another doubleheader on Saturday, when FC Dallas plays Rochester and the Islanders take on the Galaxy.
Keyvan Heydari is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
