Metropolitan FA

Metropolitan FA
Full nameMetropolitan Football Academy
Founded2012[1]
StadiumParque Reparto Metropolitano
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Capacity1,000
OwnerConnor Ulloa
Alfie Lozano
Vaughan Martínez
ChairmanAlfie Lozano
ManagerJorge Silvetti
LeagueLiga Puerto Rico
2022Champions (2nd)
Websitehttp://www.metropolitanfootball.com/
Current season

Metropolitan FA is a Puerto Rican association football club from the capital of San Juan that currently plays in the Liga Puerto Rico. The club plays its home matches at the Parque Reparto Metropolitano.

History

Metropolitan FA was founded in 2012 by Argentine Jorge Silvetti.[1] In 2015 the team finished third in the Copa Excelencia which took place that year in lieu of a Puerto Rico Soccer League season.[2] By the 2016 season the club was competing in the resurrected Puerto Rico Soccer League, the top tier of football on the island. After finishing in second place during both halves of the regular season, the team had the most combined points in the league and advanced directly to the final.[3] The club won the league championship in the playoff by defeating Bayamón FC in the final at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium.[4][5]

As part of pre-season preparations in 2017 Metropolitan FA competed in the annual Don Bosco Cup. The team won the silver medal in the tournament, falling 0–3 to GPS Puerto Rico in the final.[6] The club finished the abbreviated 2017 regular season in third place before being eliminated in the playoff round.[7] The league ceased operations following the season and Puerto Rico was without a top-tier competition until September 2018.

Metropolitan FA joined the nascent Liga Puerto Rico for its inaugural season in 2018/19. It went on to finish as the first-ever champions of the 8-team league.[8] The club also finished runner-up in the Copa Luis Villarejo that season. The club began the 2019/20 campaign and was in a close second in the table[9] but the season was eventually abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic and no champion was named.[10][11] As reigning Puerto Rico champions, the club earned the right to compete in the 2020 Caribbean Club Shield. However, the tournament was also eventually cancelled because of the pandemic.[12]

In August 2020 the club announced the signing of all-time leading scorer for the Puerto Rico national team Hector Ramos.[13] Because no 2020/21 season was held in Puerto Rico, Metropolitan FA was still the nation's reigning champion, thus qualifying the team for an expanded 2021 Caribbean Club Championship which kicked off in May 2021.[14] In preparation for the tournament, the club played two friendly matches against San Cristóbal FC of the Primera División de Republica Dominicana at the Félix Sánchez Olympic Stadium in March 2021. Metropolitan FA lost the first match 0–3.[15][16] In the second match, the Puerto Rican side earned a 1–1 draw with Hector Ramos scoring Metropolitan's first-ever goal against an international opponent.[17]

Metropolitan opened its 2021 Caribbean Club Championship with a match against Delfines del Este FC on May 15. Metropolitan took the lead through a goal by Jorge Rivera in the 83rd minute but Delfines del Este leveled the score in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The match ended in a 1–1 draw.[18] Two days later, Metropolitan earned its first win in international competition with a 4–0 victory over Bonaire champions SV Real Rincon. Hector Ramos opened the scoring with the eventual game-winner in the sixth minute while Jorge Rivera scored twice more.[19] Real Rincon had previously won the bronze medal in the 2018 edition of the tournament.[20] On the final matchday of the group stage, Delfines del Este defeated Real Rincon 10–0[21] and jumped ahead of Metropolitan at the top of the group on goal differential. However, CONCACAF ruled that Delfines fielded six ineligible players in its match against Metropolitan. As a result, Metropolitan was awarded a win for its match against Delfines, with the Puerto Rican club moving on to the semi-finals as a result.[22] In the semi-final match, Metropolitan and Inter Moengotapoe of Suriname played an intense, but scoreless first half. Inter Moengotapoe broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute and went on to win 3–1 with Metropolitan's goal coming from Marc Nieves in the 95th minute.[23]

By advancing the semi-finals, Metropolitan FA secured a place in the preliminary round of the 2021 CONCACAF League,[23] becoming the first-ever team from Puerto Rico to qualify for the tournament.[24] On 16 June 2021 it was determined by draw that Metropolitan FA would face FC Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa of Guatemala in the Preliminary Round.[25] In preparation for the series, the club signed former French youth international Jordan Barbara[26] and Puerto Rican striker Ricardo Rivera.[27]

Stadium

Current squad

As of the March 17, 2024[28][29]

No. Pos. Nation Player
12 GK Puerto Rico PUR Julian Vivas
30 GK Argentina ARG Sebastian Uranga
1 GK Argentina ARG Angelo Airoldi
6 DF Puerto Rico PUR Rolvin Cintron Cruz
23 DF United States USA Matias Maroni
8 MF Puerto Rico PUR Marcos Martinez
32 DF Ecuador ECU Dario Montero
64 DF Argentina ARG Pedro Costantini
22 DF Puerto Rico PUR Izander Ortiz
17 MF Puerto Rico PUR Jaime Díaz
4 DF Puerto Rico PUR Sebastian Diaz
21 MF Argentina ARG Diego Ivan Amarilla
24 MF Mexico MEX Sergio Sánchez Hernández
37 MF Puerto Rico PUR Zemi Folch
13 MF Puerto Rico PUR George Perez
7 MF Puerto Rico PUR Christian Vargas
99 FW Puerto Rico PUR Hector Ramos
31 FW Puerto Rico PUR Julian Terron
33 FW Puerto Rico PUR Ricardo Bautista
5 FW Puerto Rico PUR Luis Gabriel Figueroa
89 FW Puerto Rico PUR Karlos Ferrer

|}

Records

2015–2017

Key

  Champion   Runners-up   3rd Place

Season Puerto Rico Soccer League Overall Ref.
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P
2015
Copa Excelencia
 3rd 10 6 3 1 34 11 21 3rd
[2]
2016
Apertura
 2nd 13 9 3 1 29 9 30 1st
[5]
Clausura
 2nd 10 8 1 1 29 11 25 1st
[5]
2017
Regular Season
 3rd 9 5 2 2 18 10 17 3rd
[7]
Playoffs
 4th 1 0 0 1 1 3 N/A 4th
[7]

2018-present

Season Liga Puerto Rico Domestic Cup Play-offs
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GF GA P
2018/19[8]
1st
 1st 21 16 3 2 52 23 51 2nd 1st
2019/20[9] N/A 15 12 1 2 37 59 21 Not held
2020/21[30] Cancelled because of COVID-19 pandemic
2021[31] 1st 6 5 0 1 32 8 15 Not held 2nd
2022[32] 1st 14 10 3 1 51 16 33 Not held 1st

International competition

The following is a list of results for Metropolitan FA in international competitions. Metropolitan FA's scores are listed first.

Year Tournament Round Opponent Home Away Agg.
2020 Caribbean Club Shield Group Stage
Cuba Santiago de Cuba
Cancelled[12]
Cayman Islands Scholars International
Suriname Inter Moengotapoe
2021 Caribbean Club Championship Group Stage Dominican Republic Delfines del Este
3–0[22]
Bonaire Real Rincon
4–0[33]
Semi-finals Suriname Inter Moengotapoe
1–3[34]
2021 CONCACAF League Preliminary Round Guatemala Santa Lucía
1–2[35]
0–3[36]
1–5

Achievements

Puerto Rico Soccer League

Liga Puerto Rico

Copa Luis Villarejo

Copa Don Bosco

  • Runner-up: 2017[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Errea Sport Set to Stay with the Metropolitan Football Academy". Errea. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Tablas de Posiciones Puerto Rico Soccer League | FutbolBoricua.net". futbolboricua.co. Retrieved 2016-11-22.
  3. ^ a b Jusino, Edwin. "Metropolitan se corona campeón de la tabla general y va directo a la final de la PRSL" (in Spanish). Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  4. ^ a b Jusino, Edwin. "Metropolitan Football Academy es campeón de la Puerto Rico Soccer League" (in Spanish). Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Puerto Rico 2016". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  6. ^ a b Jusino, Edwin. "Cae Metropolitan ante el debutante GPS Puerto Rico en Copa Don Bosco" (in Spanish). Futbol Boricua. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Stokkermans, Karel. "Puerto Rico 2017". RSSSF. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Schöggl, Hans; Stokkermans, Karel. "Puerto Rico 2018/19". RSSSF. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b Stokkermans, Karel. "Puerto Rico 2019/20". RSSSF. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ^ Pérez, Yamaira Muñiz. "Liga Puerto Rico cancela sus torneos de fútbol" (in Spanish). elvoceer.com. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  11. ^ Rosa Andino, Jessica. "Cancelados los Torneos de Futbol" (in Spanish). Liga Puerto Rico. Retrieved 22 April 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Update on Concacaf Caribbean Club Shield and Flow Concacaf Caribbean Club Championship". Concacaf. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  13. ^ Jusino, Edwin. "Con flamante fichaje el Metropolitan FA" (in Spanish). futbolboricua.co. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Update on 2021 Concacaf Caribbean Club Competitions". CONCACAF. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  15. ^ Acevedo Diaz, Manuel. "San Cristóbal se impuso ampliamente al Metropolitan FA de Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Manuel Acevedo Diaz. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Regresa Metropolitan a la Cancha" (in Spanish). Metropolitan FA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Empate en la Vuelta". Metropolitan FA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  18. ^ "O&M start off FCCCC with a bang". Concacaf. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  19. ^ "Metropolitan, Inter Moengo take big steps forward at FCCCC". Concacaf. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Franciscain Captures Caribbean Shield iwith 2-1 Win Over Moengotapoe". CONCACAF. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Inter Moengo earn big draw on historic night at FCCCC". Concacaf. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Concacaf Statement regarding Delfines del Este FC". Concacaf. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  23. ^ a b "Inter Moengo, Cavaly AS advance to FCCCC Final". CONCACAF. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  24. ^ "Los equipos caribeños encabezan lista de debutantes en la SCL" (in Spanish). CONCACAF. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  25. ^ "SORTEO DETERMINA EMPAREJAMIENTOS" (in Spanish). Metropolitan FA. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  26. ^ Jusino, Edwin. "Se refuerza el Metropolitan Football Academy con francés para la Liga CONCACAF" (in Spanish). futbolboricua.co. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  27. ^ Velazquez, Bryant. "Ricardo Rivera De León" (in Spanish). Tercer Tiempo. Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Squad List". Metropolitan FA. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Metropolitan FA Roster" (in Spanish). Liga Puerto Rico. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  30. ^ "En compas de esper la FPF para reiniciar la Liga Puerto Rico" (in Spanish). Liga Puerto Rico. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  31. ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Puerto Rico 2021". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  32. ^ Stokkermans, Karel. "Puerto Rico 2022". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  33. ^ "Metropolitan FA 4 SV Real Rincon 0". CONCACAF. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  34. ^ "Inter Moengo 3 Metropolitan FA 1". CONCACAF. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Metropolitan 1 Santa Lucia 2". CONCACAF. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  36. ^ "Santa Lucia 3 Metropolitan 0". CONCACAF. Retrieved 25 July 2022.