Santos Laguna and Municipal look to get back on track in Group D

October 6, 2008

Puerto Rico Islanders coach Colin Clarke knows that Santos Laguna will be out for revenge when his team visits Corona Stadium on Wednesday for a rematch between the two clubs. “Wednesday will be a huge game for both teams, we beat them at home on a water soaked ground and got a good result,” said the former Northern Ireland international. “But since then they have come up with every excuse available in the book as to why they lost. We expect their fans to come out and give us plenty of shtick, they will want to put things right. They need the result and if they don’t win on Wednesday chances are they won’t qualify [for the quarter-finals].”

The Islanders surprised Santos 3-1 on September 23 in San Juan in a rain soaked deluge and remain undefeated with two wins and a tie at the top of the Group C standing in what so far has been a storybook season.

On Sunday, in the United Soccer League Semi-final the Orange Troop rallied from a two goal aggregate deficit and beat the Rochester Raging Rhinos 3-2 to advance to the USL Championship game next weekend against the Vancouver Whitecaps in what was another emotional victory for the Islanders.

“Without a doubt our rematch against Santos will be our toughest test yet,” said Clarke. “I ask my players to give more and more, with an incredibly busy schedule, and they just keep giving. I don’t think they will realize what they have accomplished until the season is over and they step back and take a look at the big picture.”

Santos recorded a win on Sunday with a 57th minute goal from Christian Benitez but are still reeling from their latest Champions League loss, a 2-0 loss away to Panama’s Tauro FC on October 2 which left them in third place in the Group D standings with one win and two losses.

Santos will be missing defender Juan Pablo Santiago who was red carded in their last match against Tauro FC while Puerto Rico striker Taiwo Atieno has also been suspended after picking up his second yellow card of the group stage during last week’s 2-2 draw against Municipal.

The Scarlet Machine of Guatemala City earned their first point in the group stage after an injury time equalizer from the foot of Juan Carlos Plata against the Islanders last Wednesday and prepare to host Tauro FC who are coming off a surprise win against Santos.

A confidence boost wasn’t in the cards for Municipal on Sunday though when slipped to second place in the Guatemala First Division standing with a 1-0 loss on the road to Xinabajul on Sunday.

In their first meeting of the Group Stage on September 25th at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City, Tauro FC striker Brunette Hay scored two goals including a 90th minute winner in a 2-1 victory over Municipal with Guillermo Ramirez scoring the lone brace for the visitors.

Ramirez who picked up his second yellow card in his last match will be suspended for the game while Tauro FC will be missing defender Leonel Parris who was ejected in their win over Santos midfielder Christian Vega who was booked for the second time in the group stage.

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