On March 21, 1992, Puerto Rico experienced one of its best moments in football history when Mark Lugris, the 30-year-old captain of the 'Huracán Azul', scored the first goal in the 23rd minute of the inaugural match of the 1994 World Cup qualifiers against the Dominican Republic. The goal, which came from 45 feet away, helped Puerto Rico win 2-1, ending a six-game losing streak in World Cup qualifying matches. The celebration was captured by photographer Michael Lewis and has now been immortalized in a collectible card thanks to DECKS PR, a local company founded by Kevin De La Cruz. Lugris, now 64, said he was surprised by the idea and thought it was a joke when he first heard about it.
The photo of his celebration has been widely published, including in 60 newspapers, and was taken by Lewis, who worked for the Daily News. The match was also covered by a group from an English program, among others. Puerto Rico's team at the time consisted of 14 players born in the United States, mostly from New York, where Lugris is from. He is Puerto Rican on his mother's side and has roots in Aibonito.
Ramiro Borja scored the second goal in the 68th minute, helping Puerto Rico reach its highest historical position in the FIFA world rankings, 97th place. Currently, the team ranks 154th.