City Stars Drop 1-0 Decision To Miami FC

June 20, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release


CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars could not overcome an early goal by Paulo Araujo in falling 1-0 to Miami FC. The City Stars were unable to find the back of the net despite outshooting the Blues 15-6.

In the opposite of Thursday's match, Miami came out strong from the beginning. In the 17th minute Leo Inacio Nunez played a long ball towards the Cleveland 18 yard box. As Hunter Gilstrap pushed out of goal, the ball bounced off the back of Alen Marcina and into the path of Araujo who calmly knocked the ball past the drawn up Gilstrap to give Miami the early 1-0 lead.

The City Stars regrouped from the early deficit to create multiple chances in an active first half but Cleveland was unable to find the equalizer.

In the 33rd Warren Kanu played a great long ball ahead to Joshua Boateng but Boateng's one-touch cross towards Pato Aguilera was off the mark and Aguilera was unable to get off a shot.

In the 38th minute Anthony Stovall pushed up the sideline from his left back position and played a cross into the box that left Miami keeper Pat Hannigan off his line but Boateng was unable to capitalize on the open net as he extended his leg but missed the ball.

Boateng was back on the attack in the 42nd as he made a weaving run down the right sideline and back to the top of the 18. Boateng settled into a left footed shot that curled towards the far post but did not have enough hook and missed far left.

The City Stars subbed Steve Gillespie and Alioune Gueye in at the half and the duo helped change the pace of the match as the City Stars controlled the ball for much of the final 45 minutes.

The City Stars saw its best set of opportunities come in the 61st minute. Troy Roberts came up from center back to play a cross into the center of the box and Boateng was there to get a flick on the ball but Hannigan made the diving save to send the ball out for a corner kick.

On the corner, Pato Aguilera sent a line drive into the box that was headed by Roberts towards the right post but Hannigan made another diving save.

Miami had its only real chance of the second half in the 68th minute when Marcina won a lose ball in the box and fired a shot that bounced off the left post and out of bounds.

In the 77th minute Aguilera gave Miami a scare as the midfielder sent a hard shot towards the net but Hannigan was able to dive at the last second to stop the ball from finding the back of the net. As Hannigan hit the ground the ball bounced dangerously close to the goal line but the Miami keeper was able to swat at the ball and knock it out of the box to preserve the clean sheet.

The City Stars final chance at the equalizer came in the 90th minute off another corner from Aguilera. After being played into Boateng, the ball was deflected to the feet of Gordon Kljestan who spun into a one-touch shot but the ball flew over the top of the net to give Miami its second victory in Cleveland in three days.

The City Stars continue the home stand Tuesday June 23rd with a 7 p.m. match against the defending USL-1 champion Vancouver Whitecaps. June 23rd is Student ID night at Middlefield Cheese Stadium with all students with valid ID's receiving $5 tickets. Tickets are available through clevelandcitystars.com or by calling 330-425-2003.



USL First Division Stories from June 20, 2009


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