Cruz Azul rallies for 3-3 draw with Puerto Rico

September 16, 2009

Alejandro Vela scored with four minutes remaining to complete Cruz Azul’s rally from a two-goal deficit for a 3-3 draw with the Puerto Rico Islanders Tuesday night in a rematch of last season’s CONCACAF Champions League semifinals.

Vela converted a cross from Javier Orozco for an easy tap-in at the back post to increase the Mexican side’s lead atop Group C.

Pablo Zeballos scored a pair of goals, one in each half, to pace Cruz Azul, which improved to seven points as the Group Stage reached its midpoint.

Nicholas Addlery scored one goal and helped on another for Puerto Rico, which earned its first point in three games.

The Islanders, who already have qualified for the playoffs in the United Soccer Leagues First Division – the second tier of North American pro soccer, were the more aggressive team in the first half, hitting the woodwork in the second minute when Jonathan Steele volleyed a cross from Noah Delgado off the right post.

Cruz Azul had more possession and chances in the second half, creating its first corner in the 49th, but Puerto Rico did not retreat into a shell, striking the bar with Jonathan Steele’s right-footer from distance in the 55th.

Zeballos pulled Cruz Azul within 3-2 in the 68th, taking a cross from Jamie Lozano, settling with a touch of his left foot just outside the 18, turning and driving a bouncing shot past goalkeeper Bill Gaudette.

Vela equalized in the 86th. Alejandros Castro worked free on the right, forwarded the ball to Orozco, whose rolling cross found Vela just inside the 6-yard box at the back post.

Puerto Rico had the better possession and chances in the first 45 minutes.

Puerto Rico took the lead in the 24th when Scott Jones looped a cleared corner kick back into the top of the area. The ball pinged off John Krause’s head and landed at the feet of Mexican defender Cristian Arrieta, who converted for an early lead.

Zeballos equalized 10 minutes later, taking a ball on the left side of the area, spinning outside to create space from Krause and driving a right-footed shot into the opposite side netting.

Puerto Rico reclaimed the lead in the 40th minute. Addlery sent Fabrice Noel through with a side-heel flick from a throw-in that the Haitian one-touched past Cruz Azul defender Joel Huqui, chased down the ball and toe-poked it past goalkeeper Yosgart Gutierrez.

Addlery then reacted to a loose ball in the area four minutes later to secure a two-goal advantage for Puerto Rico heading into halftime.

Puerto Rico had scored only two goals in its previous four Champions League games this season, including its 1-0 win over Toronto FC in Canada in the first leg of the Preliminary Round.

Cruz Azul lost 2-0 to Puerto Rico in the first leg of last season’s semifinals in March, but won the second leg 3-1 in Mexico City and prevailed on penalties.

Cruz Azul hadn’t allowed a goal in three games – since a 6-2 victory over Herediano in the first leg of the Preliminary Round.

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico

Tags: aggressive team, Alejandro Vela, arrieta, Bill Gaudette, Canada, champions league semifinals, corner kick, Cristian Arrieta, Cruz, cruz azul, group stage, john krause, jonathan steele, left foot, nicholas addlery, North American, orozco, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, united soccer leagues, vela, zeballos

Islanders rusty, Marathon limping heading into first leg of Champions League quarterfinals

February 24, 2009

Puerto Rico Islanders may have off-season rust; Honduran champion Marathon has more serious concerns heading into the first leg of Thursday’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal in San Juan.

The Monstruo Verde (Green Monster) from San Pedro Sula won the Apertura title in December to earn a berth in next year’s Champions League, but have been beset by injuries so far in the Honduras Clausura while still holding on to first place after Sunday’s 1-0 win at Motagua.

“Marathon is without their backbone and while we are expecting some of our players to recover [soon] – we still have many key components of this team injured and on the mend,” coach Manuel Keosseian said.

Defender Erick Norales (thigh), goalkeeper Victor Coello (right leg) and midfielder Maynor Suazo (knee) are still on the mend while others like midfielder Carlos Oliva (herniated disc) and defender Mario Beata (calf tear) aren’t expected to play either.

There is some good news for Keosseian. Highly touted attacking midfielder Marvin Chavez returned from a bruised leg for Sunday’s victory in Tegucigalpa.

Chavez scored the winner in a 2-0 victory over Saprissa on November 5 to earn Marathon the Group A title.

Midfielder Emil Martinez also returned to the lineup on Sunday while forward Milton ‘Tyson’ Nunez (thigh) is reported to be anxious to join strike partner Jerry Palacios, who scored the lone goal in Sunday’s game.

Coach Colin Clarke’s “Orange Troop” haven’t played a competitive match since their last Group Stage fixture on October 30 against Tauro FC, but the former Northern Ireland international remains upbeat after three friendlies against Major League Soccer opposition in Bradenton, Florida.

The Islanders fell 1-0 to the Chicago Fire on February 7; two nights later drew with the New York Red Bulls 0-0 and concluded with a 2-0 win over the reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew on February 12.

The Islanders finished second to Mexico’s Santos Laguna in a much weaker Group D, so Clarke is aware of the challenge.

“Marathon are a great team, are good going forward and qualified in a much more difficult group,” Clarke said. “Getting a result in the first game will be crucial for us because after the first leg, we will be headed to their stadium and a hostile environment for the return match.”

The Islanders are led by Bill Gaudette, the top goalkeeper in the United Soccer Leagues’ First Division – the second tier of North American soccer; USL defender of the year Christian Arrieta and Puerto Rico’s team player of the year, midfielder Jonathan Steele who led the league with 11 assists last season.

The off-season departure of striker Taiwo Atieno to the Charleston Battery and Fabrice Noel, who is still negotiating a trade, will weaken the Islanders.

Clarke recently bolstered his roster though with the addition of Jamaican international forwards Nicholas Addlery from the Vancouver Whitecaps and Sean Fraser from Miami FC, while the team has also added target man Martin Nunez from the Carolina Railhawks.

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Tags: Bradenton, bradenton florida, Carlos Oliva, Carolina Railhawks, Chicago, Christian Arrieta, coello, colin clarke, columbus crew, concacaf champions league, CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Emil Martinez, Erick Norales, Fabrice Noel, Florida, friendlies, green monster, group stage, herniated disc, Honduras, Jerry Palacios, jonathan steele, lone goal, Major League Soccer, Manuel Keosseian, Mario Beata, Martin Nunez, marvin chavez, maynor, monstruo verde, New York, new york red bulls, Nicholas, North American, Northern Ireland, Puerto Rico, puerto rico islanders, san juan, san pedro sula, Santos, santos laguna, saprissa, Sean Fraser, suazo, Taiwo Atieno, Tegucigalpa, Tyson, Vancouver

Surprising Islanders return nearly intact for run into Champions League quarterfinals

February 19, 2009

Nearly two months before their season kicks off in April, the Puerto Rico Islanders will play arguably the most important game in club history.

Its February 26 match at home against Marathon of Honduras in the opening leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals will be the biggest test yet for the six-year-old side.

The majority of the team that guided the Islanders through group play and into the United Soccer League’s First Division final, where they lost to Vancouver, 2:1, have returned, including USL award winners Bill Gaudette for best goalkeeper, Cristian Arrieta as best defender and Jonathan Steele as the most valuable player.

“Having the core group back is a tremendous feeling,” Gaudette said. “To have most of the team intact from last year is really going to help us. Anytime you’re bringing back the nucleus of the team it’s an advantage.”

Also returning at the helm is coach Colin Clarke, who signed a three-year contract extension earlier this week. Clarke, who formerly coached FC Dallas in Major League Soccer, was hired in 2007 and guided the Islanders to the USL-1 semifinals, where they lost on penalties to eventual champion Seattle. In January, Clarke also was installed as manager of the Puerto Rico national team.

“I am happy and excited to be back,” Clarke said. “I am also looking forward to the new season and the challenges of continuing to build a successful franchise from the youth academy all the way to the professional team that will give the kids of Puerto Rico a club that they can be proud and aspire to be a part of. We had a great year last year and we need to build on it and be challenging for all honors every year.”

Puerto Rico finished tied with Tauro FC in Group D, but the Islanders beat Tauro 2-1 in the first round and clinched their spot in the quarterfinals with a 2-2 draw against Tauro at in Panama City on their final day of group play.

That result put two teams in the final eight from the USL, the second division of North American soccer. The Montreal Impact is also in the two-leg knockout round.

“I think people are starting to understand that there’s some good soccer being played in Puerto Rico, as well as the USL,” Gaudette said. “We had two representatives from USL coming into the tournament and both getting into the quarterfinals is a tremendous feet for the league.”

By Dylan Butler

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