Miami FC earns important draw against first place Islanders
Published on July 4, 2009 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami, FL - Miami FC continues to earn important points towards its playoff run, tying against the best team in the league-the Puerto Rico Islanders. The Blues continue to show improvement, creating eleven shots on goal and staying in the playoff hunt. Miami will continue their home stand at FIU Stadium next week playing against the Vancouver Whitecaps this Sunday, July 12 at 6pm.
"It's hard when you play the first place team in our league," said head coach, Zinho. "Puerto Rico is very determined in what they want to do. I think we went out there and created more chances than they did. Unfortunately we couldn't come away with three points. All we can do is look forward to playing the Vancouver Whitecaps next week."
The Blues opened the game with plenty of opportunities. In the 6 minute, Paulo Jr. found a long pass in front of Puerto Rico's goal. The Brazilian forward unleashed a shot that would have put the Blues up 1-0 but the ball exploded off the post keeping the game drawn at zero.
Six minutes later Paulo Jr. found himself one on one with the Puerto Rico goaltender, Bill Gaudette. He fired off another clear shot, but this time Gaudette made a brilliant save keeping his clean sheet intact.
The game continued it's back and forth pace, this time it was the Islanders that had a clear chance to break the stalemate. On an Islander free kick, Cristian Arrieta connected a header that was destined to find the back of the net, but it sailed wide, wasting the best opportunity for the Islanders in the first half.
In the 43 minute, the Blues had a controversial goal called back. Alen Marcina crossed a ball into the heart of the small box that found the head of Leo Inacio Nunes. Nunes buried the header, but the goal was quickly recalled on a questionable offside's call.
The second half continued the trend of Miami FC attacking. Two minutes into the second half, Alen Marcina rattled the post for the second time. Miami FC's best opportunity of the match came in the 62 minute when Edwin Miranda looked off the Islander's defense and connected a beautiful through ball to John Pulido. Pulido was left alone with the Puerto Rico goaltender and juked him, leaving himself alone with the goal. He tried to finish, but his shot ricocheted off the post.
Miami FC will return to FIU Stadium next week to face the Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday Jul 12th. The Whitecaps are currently in 8 place, and are fight for that last playoff spot.
USL First Division Stories from July 4, 2009
- Miami FC earns important draw against first place Islanders - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Thunder Come Back to Draw Portland Timbers 1-1 in Final Seconds - Minnesota Thunder
- Impact Faces Charleston Battery Sunday At Saputo Stadium - Montreal Impact
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