Sidney Rivera

Sidney Adam Rivera (born November 15, 1993) is a professional soccer player who plays for United Premier Soccer League side New York Braveheart SC. Born in the United States, he represents Puerto Rico internationally.

Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, Rivera moved to Hampton, New Jersey and played high school soccer at Saint Benedict's Preparatory School and North Hunterdon High School.

Club career

College Rivera spent his entire college career at Old Dominion University. He made a total of 48 appearances for the Monarchs and tallied 11 goals and one assist. He led the team with nine goals in 2014, where he won the first ever Conference-USA tournament championship in Old Dominion University history while being named tournament offensive MVP. Rivera played for Virginia Beach City FC in the summer of 2014.

Professional On January 20, 2015, Rivera was selected in the third round (63rd overall) of the 2015 MLS SuperDraft by Orlando City. While he earned a contract with Orlando, the team loaned him out on May 8 to USL affiliate club Louisville City FC. He made his professional debut four days later in a 3–0 victory over the Wilmington Hammerheads. Rivera went on to make 10 appearances for Louisville before leaving the team under circumstances that neither Louisville, nor Orlando would comment on. On July 30, he was sent on loan to the Pittsburgh Riverhounds along with teammate, Conor Donovan, in a bid to gain more experience. However, Rivera would only make 1 appearance for the Riverhounds and he was released by Orlando on November 25, 2015.

On April 6, 2016, Rivera signed with NASL expansion side Puerto Rico FC. In his first season with the club, Rivera found consistent playing time for the first time in his professional career, making 16 appearances and scoring 3 goals. After a successful first season with the club, Rivera appeared in 20 matches for Puerto Rico FC, however, he only started 6 matches and his minutes over the course of the season decreased. After leaving Vietnam, Rivera returned to New Jersey where he began playing for FC Motown in the National Premier Soccer League.

After the NPSL season, Rivera signed with the Philadelphia Fury of the National Independent Soccer Association, along with several of his FC Motown teammates, ahead of the league's inaugural season.

Post-professional On April 26, 2021, Rivera signed with USL League Two side Morris Elite SC to compete in the clubs inaugural season. On May 24, 2021, he scored the first goal for the club in a 1–0 victory over F.A. Euro, the first victory in club history.

Rivera joined New York Braveheart SC of the United Premier Soccer League in 2022.

International career Rivera was born in the United States to a Colombian father and Cape Verdean mother. After a stint with Puerto Rico FC, he gained the option to represent the Puerto Rico national football team. He made his debut for Puerto Rico on March 24, 2019, in a CONCACAF Nations League qualifier against Grenada, as a 58th-minute substitute for Héctor Ramos.

International goals Scores and results Puerto Rico's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. November 19, 2019 Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 1–0 3–0 2019–20 CONCACAF Nations League C 2. 2–0