http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=goal_ccl_wednesday_quarterfinal&prov=goal&type=lgnsWho: C.D. Marathon (HON) vs. Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
When: 8:00 pm ET, Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Where: Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras
T.V.: Fox Soccer Channel/ Galavision
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The first leg in Bayamon last Wednesday saw two teams clearly out to score goals. The Puerto Rico Islanders and C.D. Marathon put a combined 27 shots on target. Fittingly, it was the USL side that held a 2-1 advantage in shots, and finished the match as 2-1 winners.
The return leg will likely be very similar with Marathon in need of a win to advance to the semifinal round of the CONCACAF Champions League.
Colin Clarke’s men travel to Honduras with the luxury if needing only a draw to advance to the next round, but playing Marathon in San Pedro Sula is no easy task. The Hondurans are unbeaten at home in the CCL having won all three group matches in Honduras while not conceding a single goal.
For their part, the Islanders have had some success in their CCL travels, losing only once and earning two vital points in the group stage while playing as the visitors.
Marathon will be looking to find some help for Jerry Nelson Palacios on the attacking side. The striker was the brightest player on the pitch during the first leg, but got little support from strike partner Saul Martinez.
Another problem for the Green Monsters in the first leg was controlling the Islander midfield partnership of Petter Villegas and Jonathan Steele. The reigning USL Player of the year and veteran Ecuadorian winger controlled the match fairly well for Puerto Rico in the first leg, outplaying Marathon ’s midfield and largely determining the pace of play.
If Marathon wants to turn the tides Mariano Acevedo and captain Mario Berrios will have to slow the Islanders rush through midfield, and find a way to link more with Palacios rather than just sending balls over the top.
Players To Watch
Puerto Rico Islanders: Kendall Jagdeosingh. The 22-year-old came on as a sub in the first-leg and proved to be the difference maker with his pace and skill on the ball.C.D. Marathon: Saul Martinez. At 33-years-old, Martinez may be past him best years, but the big striker will need to be at his best to help Marathon find more of the ball in the attacking third.
Goal.com Prediction: Puerto Rico did the business at home and has a solid record on the road in the CCL. It goes against the flow of these quarterfinals, but the Islanders will do just enough to pass into the semifinals. Marathon 1-1 Puerto Rico Islander
