Puerto Rico Takes Two Goal Advantage after First Leg of USSF D-2 Pro League Championship Series
Second Leg in Cary, N.C., at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 30 at WakeMed Soccer Park
Oct. 24, 2010
© U.S. Soccer
CHICAGO (Oct. 24, 2010) – The Puerto Rico Islanders defeated the Carolina RailHawks 2-0 at Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel tonight in the first leg of the USSF D-2 Pro League Championship Series.
With the win, the Islanders will take a two goal advantage into the decisive second leg of the series at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. ET.
The RailHawks will be looking to rebound on home turf next Saturday, although no team has come back to win the aggregate goals series from a 2-0 deficit after the first leg so far this postseason. The Islanders and RailHawks split results in Cary during the regular season – each team winning one of the two matches contested between the clubs at WakeMed.
After a scoreless first half, the island club came to life just four minutes after the second half whistle to open the scoring on 49 minutes. The second half continued with both teams looking just as likely to score the second, but it would be Puerto Rico to take advantage of a counter attack and double their lead in the 87th minute – the late goal giving them a formidable advantage going into the second leg.
The playoffs consist of a two-leg, aggregate goals series in the semifinals and finals. Away goals will not be considered a tie-breaker in the aggregate goal series. If teams are tied on aggregate goals after the conclusion of the second leg, they will play two 15 minute overtime periods. Penalty kicks will follow overtime if the teams have not broken the deadlock.
USSF D-2 Pro League Playoff Schedule and Results
First Round, Leg 1
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct. 6 | Montreal Impact 2, Austin Aztex 0 | Stade Saputo; Montreal, Quebec |
| Oct. 6 | NSC Minnesota Stars 0, Carolina RailHawks 0 | National Sports Center; Blaine, Minn. |
| Oct. 7 | Puerto Rico Islanders 2, Rochester Rhinos 0 | Bayamon FC Soccer Complex; Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
| Oct. 7 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2, Portland Timbers 0 | Swangard, Stadium; Burnaby, British Columbia |
First Round, Leg 2
| Date | Match | Agg. Score | Venue |
| Oct. 9 | Rochester Rhinos 2, Puerto Rico Islanders 1 | 2-3 | Marina Auto Stadium; Rochester, N.Y. |
| Oct. 9 | Carolina RailHawks 4, NSC Minnesota Stars 0 | 4-0 | WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. |
| Oct. 9 | Austin Aztex 2, Montreal Impact 3 | 2-5 | House Park; Austin, Texas |
| Oct. 10 | Portland Timbers 1, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 | 1-2 | Merlo Field (Univ. of Portland); Portland, Ore. |
Semifinal, Leg 1
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct. 14 | Montreal Impact 1, Carolina RailHawks 0 | Stade Saputo; Montreal, Quebec |
| Oct. 14 | Puerto Rico Islanders 0, Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 | Bayamon FC Soccer Complex; Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
Semifinal, Leg 2
| Date | Match | Agg. Score | Venue |
| Oct. 17 | Carolina RailHawks 2, Montreal Impact 0 | 2-1 | WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. |
| Oct. 17 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0, Puerto Rico Islanders 2 | 0-2 (a.e.t.) | Swangard Stadium; Burnaby, British Columbia |
Final, Leg 1
| Date | Match | Venue | |
| Oct. 24 | Puerto Rico Islanders 2, Carolina RailHawks 0 | Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel; Bayamon, Puerto Rico |
Final, Leg 2
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Venue |
| Oct. 30 | Carolina RailHawks vs. Puerto Rico Islanders | 7 p.m. | WakeMed Soccer Park; Cary, N.C. |
