FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida – Puerto Rico advanced to the second round of the Gold Cup Prelims on Saturday night in a 4-3 penalty shootout win over Suriname after 90 scoreless minutes at the DRV PNK Stadium.
The first 15 minutes or so were well-balanced, with each side managing a few threats but nothing substantial. With a spirited crowd at their back, Puerto Rico grew into the game as the first half went on and for good chunks of time looked to be the better side.
But Suriname were able to absorb the pressure. The finest chance of the first half belonged to the Natio, when a close-range Shaquille Pinas header was saved by Puerto Rico GK Joel Serrano onto the woodwork in the 35th minute. It was as action-packed of a 0-0 half that one will see, but scoreless nonetheless.
It was a similar story in the second half. There were opportunities abound, but few materialized into clear cut chances. Both defenses deserve credit for quelling the opposing attacking efforts before they could blossom into something greater.
Gerald Diaz’s 75th minute lunging effort was perhaps the best chance of the second half for Puerto Rico, and Suriname defender Leo Abena’s point blank header in the 95th minute was the overall best chance of the match, but Serrano made a fine save to turn it away.
At the end of regulation, the game remained scoreless, and the match proceeded to a penalty shootout. Notably, Puerto Rico subbed out Serrano for penalty specialist Sebastian Cutler just before full-time.
The strategy would prove to pay dividends. After three rounds, the score was tied 2-2, with one shot off target from each side. Cutler made a save to give El Huracan Azul the edge, and Diaz nailed the decisive penalty to send Puerto Rico through.
They will face Martinique in the second preliminary round for the rights to play in the 2023 Gold Cup group stage.
