City Stars And Portland Timbers Draw 0-0
Published on May 9, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release
Cleveland, OH - Missing six players due to injury and red card suspensions, the Cleveland City Stars debuted a new-look lineup Saturday and the result was a strong defensive effort and 11 saves from Hunter Gilstrap in a 0-0 draw with Portland.
Gilstrap served as the captain in the absence of normal captain Godfrey Tenoff and the veteran keeper responded with an amazing performance in goal that boosted the City Stars to its first point of the season.
The highlight from Gilstrap came in the 66th minute when Portland's Ryan Pore delivered an open shot on goal but was denied as Gilstrap flicked the ball right of the post.
The brilliant save was Gilstrap's eighth of the second half.
Newly signed and freshly subbed Leo Gibson made an attempt at flipping the ball over the drawn up Steve Cronin in the 90th minute but missed wide right to preserve the 0-0 draw.
The first half was mostly controlled by the Timbers but the defensive minded City Stars held strong.
In the 12th minute Portland's Mandjou Keita banged a right footed shot towards Gilstrap but the Cleveland keeper wrapped up the attempt without any trouble.
Cleveland's Ricardo Pierre-Louis fired a shot from 30 yards out in the 18th minute but the laser hooked to the right of the post.
Portland's Keita broke free again in the 24th but crashed into Gilstrap and Gordon Kljestan before being able to get off a shot.
The City Stars countered a minute later as the newly loaned Hayden created for himself in the middle third before getting a shot off from 20 yards out but the shot sailed over the top.
The Timbers controlled the ball through halftime but the City Stars defense kept Gilstrap clear.
With the draw the City Stars now sit 0-3-1 while Portland holds a 1-1-2 record. The City Stars next take on the Minnesota Thunder on the road Saturday May 16th at 8:05 p.m.
USL First Division Stories from May 9, 2009
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- Antoniuk and Sanfilippo score as Charleston defeats the RailHawks - Charleston Battery
- City Stars And Portland Timbers Draw 0-0 - Cleveland City Stars
- Portland settles for 0-0 draw after 24 shots against City Stars - Portland Timbers
- Impact Drop Home Opener - Montreal Impact
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