The coach, a fired MLS assistant named Carlos Rivera, tapped a whiteboard. On it, he had drawn a single word: Hunger.
“Mija,” he said. “You already are.”
In the post-match press conference, a Portuguese journalist asked, “Do you think this result means Puerto Rico deserves a place in FIFA?” When Puerto Rico Smashes Portugal - Jay Summers...
In the 58th minute, a Portuguese corner was cleared by a 19-year-old Puerto Rican defender named Yamil Flores – a gas station clerk’s son who had learned to head the ball by practicing against mangoes tossed by his abuela. The clearance found Javi Soto at midfield. He didn’t sprint. He glided, like a man walking on the moon, drawing two defenders before slipping a no-look pass to a winger named Diego “La Sombra” Méndez.
Her father, who had never seen a Puerto Rican team win anything in his life, wiped his eyes and nodded. The coach, a fired MLS assistant named Carlos
And somewhere in the stands, an eight-year-old girl held her father’s hand and whispered, “Papi, I want to play for them .”
The final whistle blew. Portugal’s players walked off with their heads down, some removing their jerseys to give to Puerto Rican children who had never seen their national team win anything at all. Javi Soto collapsed to his knees at center circle, kissed the crest on his chest – a coquí frog holding a soccer ball – and wept. “You already are
by Jay Summers
The ESPN graphic on the rented bar TV said “International Friendly – Halftime” but the scoreline was not friendly at all.