City Stars Draw First Place Puerto Rico 0-0
July 12, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars earned a point with a 0-0 draw against the first place Puerto Rico Islanders. Hunter Gilstrap led the way for the City Stars (2-10-5) with three saves, including two one-on-one saves in the final minutes of the match.
The match was a back-and-forth affair as both sides were able to find chances throughout the match.
In the 4th minute, Joshua Boateng sent the ball into the attacking third for the City Stars. Jason Hotchkin controlled and worked his way around the Islanders defense before getting off a left footed shot that was deflected and knocked out of bounds for a corner kick. Pato Aguilera took the corner and found the head of Ibrahim Kante. Kante's header bounced on its way to the goal and settled into the awaiting arms of Puerto Rico keeper Bill Gaudette.
In the 9th minute Puerto Rico (8-4-7) was on the attack before Kante intercepted and took control. Under pressure, Kante played the ball back to Gilstrap but Gilstrap had trouble controlling the bouncing pass. Puerto Rico's Kendall Jagdeosingh stepped in to fire a shot off the rebound but the shot missed wide left as it bounced off the side of the net.
In the 36th minute Jagdeosingh made a run up the right sideline before dropping it back to the awaiting Petter Villegas. Villegas stepped into a one-touch shot from the right corner of the box but the shot sailed wide right.
In the 39th minute, Kante played a long ball over the top that Aguilera was able to track down near the left sideline. Aguilera centered the ball towards Hotckin but a contested header was deflected out of the box. Alioune Gueye stepped into the deflection and sent a shot from 25-yards out that sliced wide right.
In the 44th minute Aguilera played a corner kick for the City Stars that sailed across the pitch to the far side of the box. Warren Kanu one the ball for the City Stars and played the ball to Leo Gibson who fired a shot off the volley. The shot looked to be on target but just missed the left corner of the net.
A minute later, the Islanders were on the attack in the 45th when Jagdeosingh was marked one-on-one in the box by Troy Roberts. Jagdeosingh dribbled into a left footed shot and fired under pressure from Roberts but the shot missed to the left.
In the 65th minute the City Stars had the best look of the match for either side. Leo Gibson made a creative run up the right sideline before sending a great ball into the far side of the box. Ricardo Pierre-Louis, who subbed in a minute prior, tracked the cross and sent a header towards the far post. With Gaudette off his line, the right side of the net was open, but Pierre-Louis' header was too high and it flew over the top of the goal.
In the 70th minute Sandy Gbandi controlled inside the City Stars box and got off a low driving shot towards the far post. Gilstrap dove to protect the net but the ball rolled just out of his reach and to the right of the post and out of bounds.
Gilstrap was tested again just a minute later. Dan Gargan weaved his way through traffic near the top of the box and dropped the ball to the left to the awaiting Gbandi who attacked on the touch. Gbandi tried to fire it past Gilstrap but the keeper came off his line to smother the ball and preserve the tie.
Puerto Rico saw two more chances come in the 83rd minute. On a scramble in the box, Cleveland defender Troy Roberts was knocked to the ground. As the ball deflected out of traffic, Sean Fraser controlled for Puerto Rico and sent a shot towards the far post but Roberts extended his leg while still seated on the ground and cleared the ball out of harms way with a scissor kick.
The Islanders won the ball on the clear-out and found Jagdeosingh inside the box. Jagdoesingh pressured Gilstrap with the dribble and fired on goal but Gilstrap made a marvelous save from short distance and corralled the ball to shut off the Puerto Rico attack.
In extra time the Islanders had its best look of the match. Noah Delgado got off an un-marked shot from the 18 yard line and the rocket of a shot was over the top of Gilstrap's outreached hand but the ball bounced off the top of the cross bar.
A minute later the Islanders had the last chance of the match when Fraser received a ball just outside of the 6-yard box but Fraser's uncontested header went right into the awaiting arms of Gilstrap as the Cleveland keeper preserved the 0-0 draw.
The City Stars conclude the eight game home stand Friday July 17th against the Charleston Battery at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through clevelandcitystars.com or by calling 330-425-2003.
USL First Division Stories from July 12, 2009
- Miami FC Remains Unbeaten at FIU - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Whitecaps Fall to Miami - Vancouver Whitecaps
- City Stars Draw First Place Puerto Rico 0-0 - Cleveland City Stars
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