Puerto Rico FC (pictured) convenes for a team photo prior to its Caribbean Club Championship opener against SV Transvaal on March 14, 2017, in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. (Photo: Puerto Rico FC)
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico – A winning debut in any competition is reason to celebrate, but Puerto Rico FC has no time for fun. After all, it has a second match to contest 48 hours later.
On Tuesday, the Naranjas -- in their first-ever Caribbean Club Championship encounter – picked up a 1-0 win over Surinamese side Transvaal thanks to Hector Ramos’ first-half penalty kick.
Defender Tyler Rudy acknowledged the accomplishment’s significance.
"We have worked for months to prepare for the Caribbean Club Championship and last night we had a great result against a tough opponent,” said the 23-year-old, who joined Puerto Rico in March 2016. “It’s a special opportunity for the club and the island.”
Puerto Rico FC will next face Jamaica’s Portmore United – a 2-0 winner over Scholars International of the Cayman Islands -- on Thursday at the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel.
The winner will end the evening atop the Group D table and own the advantage in the race for a berth in the Caribbean finals.
“We still have two more games and each is more important than the previous one,” finished Rudy.
