Rivera stars with four goals as Puerto Rico clinch Group D

MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico – It was a straightforward victory on Sunday evening for Puerto Rico
in front of their home fans at the Estadio Centroamericano de Mayaguez, as El Huracan Azul rolled to a 6-0 win over the British Virgin Islands to officially clinch promotion to League B and a place in the 2023 Gold Cup Prelims.

Puerto Rico got off to a roaring start, taking the lead after 12 minutes courtesy of a neatly placed
right footed shot into the corner from Darren Rios. Ricardo Rivera’s low cross earned him the assist.

Jaden Servania was brought down in the box in the 14th minute, and Rivera would join in on the scoring himself, converting the penalty to put Puerto Rico ahead 2-0.

In the 31st minute the hosts further added to their tally with a beautiful team goal. Kevin Hernandez passed to Nicolas Cardona, who made a one-touch feed to Gerald Diaz, who poked it past British Virgin Islands GK Daniel Gilford.

Thirty-nine minutes had gone when Wilfredo Rivera’s chip over Gilford bounced just ever slightly
too high, but Ricardo Rivera was there to collect the rebound off the crossbar to tap in for his second goal of the night. In the second half the home side kept up the attack. This time it was Rios who found Ricardo Rivera at the end of his run and Rivera tapped in for his hat trick in the 49th minute.

Soon after that, a crafty no-look pass from Ian Silva found Ricardo Rivera again down the middle in the 51st minute for his fourth goal of the game. Puerto Rico would hold steady for the rest of the match and see things out for the 6-0 win.