Stefano Rijssel

Background: Surinamese striker who plays for Trinidad and Tobago powers W Connection, where he recently returned from injury. Participated in the inaugural MLS Caribbean Combine in January 2014, where he earned a ticket to the 2014 MLS Player Combine in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Pronunciation: TBA

2012-13: Played with Trinidad club W Connection … Scored three goals in fall 2013 in helping W Connection to the lead in the T&T Pro League halfway through the season … Returned from injury and scored in first game back in 1-0 win on Dec. 7, 2013 … In the 2012-13 season, scored four goals, all in W Connection wins, in the second half of the season as W Connection finished in third place … Became the only current professional Surinamese player when he signed with W Connection in July 2012 … CONCACAF Champions League: Made three appearances in group stage of 2012-13 CONCACAF Champions League, starting once … Helped W Connection qualify for 2013-14 CONCACAF Champions League by playing all but one minute in three-team group stage in April 2013, scoring in 4-0 win vs. Caledonia … Appeared in three of four games in group stage of 2013-14 Champions League, starting twice and coming on as a substitute in 2-0 loss at Houston on Sept. 25, 2013.

International: Suriname international (20 caps, 8 goals) … Appeared in two of three games in Caribbean Cup qualifying second round in Trinidad & Tobago in November 2012 but Suriname finished third behind Cuba and Trinidad & Tobago and failed to advance … Scored four goals in three games in September 2012 in Caribbean Cup qualifying Group 3 in Martinique to help Suriname advance in first round … Appeared in all six FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in 2011 but failed to score as Suriname finished third behind El Salvador and the Dominican Republic and failed to advance … Scored two goals in three games in second round of Caribbean Cup qualifying in November 2010 in Antigua & Barbuda, but Suriname failed to advance … Scored first international goal in second game, just 14 minutes into 2-1 win vs. St. Lucia on Oct. 15, 2010, helping Suriname advance in Caribbean Cup qualifying … Made international debut on Oct. 13, 2010, at the age of 18, in Caribbean Cup qualifying match at home in Paramaribo … U-20: Leader of U-20 national team in attempt to qualify for 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup … Scored 11 goals in eight qualifying matches, including four goals at the final round of Caribbean qualifying, to help Suriname reach final round of CONCACAF qualifying … Held scoreless in losses to the United States and Panama at 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Guatemala.

Amateur: Played with both Leo Victor (2009-11) and Inter Moengotapoe (2011-12) in his native Suriname … With Inter Moengotapoe, scored four of his team's 11 goals in the first round of the Caribbean Football Union Champions Cup in 2012, helping Inter advance to the second round, where they fell to Antigua Barracuda, W Connection, and Haitian club Victory … Went on trial with Belgian club Germinal Beerschot in summer 2011 before moving to Inter … With Leo Victor, led Surinamese football with 14 goals in 2010-11 … Also scored four goals in three games for Leo Victor in first round of 2010 CFU Champions Cup but club failed to advance.

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