Miami FC Ends Road Trip with Rival Match Against Puerto Rico Islanders
Published on August 6, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Fort Lauderdale Strikers News Release
Miami, Aug 06, 2010- Miami FC travels to the Caribbean to face the Puerto Rico Islanders on Saturday, Aug. 7 at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in the final game of this summer road swing. The Blues are looking to make a push for the playoffs in the final two months of regular season play. The game is set for an 8:05 p.m. start time.
It will be the third meeting of the season between the clubs after the Islanders defeated the Blues in the first two meetings this season. The two teams will meet one final time in the regular season finale on Oct. 2 at Lockhart Stadium.
The Blues are looking to win their second consecutive match and bring some momentum back to South Florida as they prepare for the fourth and final meeting of the season with the FC Tampa Bay Rowdies on Aug. 14 at Lockhart Stadium. Miami FC will hope to win the first annual Coastal Cup derby with a big win at home.
SCOUTING PUERTO RICO
The Islanders head into this matchup after defeating tyhe Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer 5-3 over two legs in CONCACAF Champions League play. David Foley and Nicholas Addlery both scored twice over the two legs, as Puerto Rico advanced to the group stages of the Champions League for the third consecutive year.
The Islanders last played in USSF D-2 on July 24th, defeating the Rochester Rhinos 3-1 at home. In that match, Addlery executed a bicycle kick in the 31st minute to put Puerto Rico on the board and into the lead towards the back half of the first 45 minutes of play, but the Rhinos managed to tie the game just minutes before the half came to a close.
With the score tied heading into the second half, both squads came out strong looking to get the go-ahead goal. Near the midway point of the half, a Rhinos defender took down a man inside the box which set up a penalty kick for David Foley. Foley then put the PK past the Rochester keeper to give the Islanders a 2-1 lead.
Puerto Rico picked up an insurance goal in the 87th minute when Kendall Jadgeosingh went on a breakaway and put the ball into the back of the net to seal the match.
Foley leads the Islander attack with six goals on the season, tied for fourth in the league in that category. He is also the leading point-getter on the team with 12, good for seventh in the entire USSF D-2 Pro League.
So far at home, the Islanders have fared well with a 5-3-1 record at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayoman.
LAST TIME OUT
The Blues are coming off their first road win of the season with a convincing 1-0 shutout win over Crystal Palace Baltimore on Aug. 4.
Miami FC came out on the offensive, creating a number of close scoring opportunities in the first half but was unable to get that important first goal in the first stanza.
The team picked up where they left off in the second half and finally broke through when Brian Shriver knocked a header from a long cross by Euzebio Neto on the right side in the 70th minute of play to give the Miami FC the lead and the game-winning goal.
It was the first win for Miami FC Head Coach Daryl Shore since joining the team and also the fourth shutout of the season.
BROTHERLY FEUD
Miami FC defender Chris Gbandi will face off against his brother, midfielder Sandy Gbandi, this weekend in Puerto Rico.
Sandy Gbandi joined the Islanders in 2008 spending a year at FC Dallas, where he played alongside Chris in 2007.
Chris Gbandi joined the Blues prior to the 2010 season after spending time with FC Dallas and Haugesund of the Norway First Division.
PROVIDING A SPARK
Midfielder Christian Gomez and forward Paulo Jr. are looking to help keep Miami FC's momentum going along with Brian Shriver, who has emerged as a playmaker for the Blues on the road this season.
Paulo Jr. has continued to climb the league leader boards with a team-high seven goals on the season and is third in the league in that category while Gomez has four goals as they continue to prove that they are one of the top dual-threats in the league.
Gomez is tied for eighth in the league in points with 11 while thanks to his three assists this season.
Paulo Jr. has 16 points and is in sole possession of third place in that category.
Shriver, meanwhile, tied Christian Gomez's goal total this week with his fourth goal of the season against Baltimore. Three of Shriver's goals have been on the road.
U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 6, 2010
- Miami FC Ends Road Trip with Rival Match Against Puerto Rico Islanders - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- RailHawks Host Montreal This Saturday at 7 P.M. - North Carolina FC
- AC St. Louis' Mike Ambersley Named Player of the Month - AC St. Louis
- Impact Faces RailHawks Saturday - Montreal Impact
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