City Stars Give Up Two Second Half Goals And Fall To Miami FC 2-1
Published on June 18, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Cleveland City Stars News Release
CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars surrendered a second half lead and missed a 90th minute penalty kick in falling 2-1 to the Miami FC Blues on Thursday.
The City Stars (2-8-2) got off to a fast start in the 20th minute when Leo Gibson sent a diagonal cross from near midfield to Joshua Boateng who controlled on the run outside of the 18. Boateng charged towards the drawn up Pat Hannigan and chipped it over the head of the Miami keeper to put the City Stars ahead 1-0.
Miami FC made multiple substitutions at the half and came out in the second with a completely different tempo.
In the 58th minute the recently inserted Leo Inacio Nunez received the ball in a dangerous position inside the 18. With his back to the goal, Nunez spun left and fired an unmarked shot into the left side of the goal to give the Blues the equalizer.
Miami was on the attack again in the 61st minute behind another of the halftime substitutions. Paulo Araujo Jr. controlled the box on the right sideline near the corner and crossed into Alen Marcina in the middle of the box. Marcina dribbled through the City Stars defense unmarked and settled into an open shot that rolled to the far post past Cleveland keeper Hunter Gilstrap for the 2-1 Miami lead.
The City Stars made an attempt at the equalizer in the 84th minute when Troy Roberts sent a cross into the box that was played by Gibson on the one-touch. Gibson's shot was deflected by Hannigan and cleared before Ricardo Pierre-Louis could get to the ball.
The City Stars had a golden opportunity in the 90th minute when Nicky Torres was whistled for a hand ball inside the box setting up a penalty kick for the City Stars. Pato Aguilera took the kick for Cleveland and stuttered into the shot before sending it towards the left of the net but Hannigan responded to the pressure to make the diving deflection. Pierre-Louis was there for the City Stars with an open net but the follow up shot was sent sailing over the net.
Cleveland and Miami meet again on Saturday June 20th at Middlefield Cheese Stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets are available through clevelandcitystars.com or by calling 330-425-2003.
USL First Division Stories from June 18, 2009
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- Battery Streak Snapped By Late Puerto Rico Goal - Charleston Battery
- City Stars Give Up Two Second Half Goals And Fall To Miami FC 2-1 - Cleveland City Stars
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