The first 10 minutes of the second half was a different story. The Islanders seemed more efficient offensively, getting their only corner and making a few offensive runs into the box. Most of those runs where made by Noah Delgado. The positivity was short lived after some suspect defending on a set peice which allowed a goal from the Crew’s tall stiker in the 58′, Lenhart. The 79′ goal by Rogers killed the Islanders confidence and it was all downhill from there.

The Formation

Most Islanders fans have figured out that our squad loves to defend away from the JRL (sometimes more for their own good) . They go in the game with a so called 4-4-2. I only call it “so called” because to me, it looks more like a 4-5-1 during 80% of the game. Be that as it may, this formation and strategy has brought us a handful of success stories to chat about on and off the island. Unfortunately, tonight was an exception. The lack of offensive coordination was a huge factor in tonight’s loss. Bad passes, bad support but this was all due to The Crew’s tight and physical defending. They didn’t allow much space for the Islanders so la tropa naranja was forced to play wide. Once they played wide, the service was just not there.

The Lone Ranger

The Jamaican boy Addlery had a rough game. It was just so gruesome to watch those defenders wipe the floor with Addlery; however, how can you blame him? The attacking plan was placed on his shoulders but the Crews CB’s; Marshall and Brunner, nearly broke his spine. Pushes from the back, hard aerial contact, you name it, Addlery felt it. He seemed overwhelmed by the physicality and credit is due to the Crew.

The Missing Link <

The Islanders missed Kendall Jagdeosingh more than a 13 year old boy misses the girl of his dreams when summer camp is over. The suspect red that he received in the return leg against Toronto had its affect tonight. Point is that KJ is a very big piece of the Islanders puzzle and no one could fill in that space tonight. The Addlery-KJ pairing is very dangerous. Addlery, the physical striker (not so much tonight) and KJ, the Islanders fast paced striker/winger. They compliment each other very well making life hard for most CB’s and the pair was surely missed.

The “cut the crap” Yellow Card

Bill “The Wall” Gaudette fell victim to his reputation tonight. That reputation being one that he loves to waste time. The 28th minute had Gaudette seeing yellow due to “time wasting” The yellow card was a message from the CONCACAF Champions League officials. One could debate that their wasn’t much foul play. Just before the booking, Gaudette went in for a 50/50 ball against Schelotto, he won made the save but was slightly clipped by Schelotto’s left foot. On my clock, it took 10-12 seconds max after the incident for Gaudette to take the goal kick. Hardly much time, especially for a player who was shaken up.

To add insult to injury, the Columbus fans where chanting “Columbus reject” after the incident. Ouch! All I have to say about that is not even a statement but a question. How many Columbus Crew Goalkeepers contributed at least half the saves The Wall has which has ended in a semifinal finish in the CONCACAF Champions League? Some reject huh? Yellow card aside, Gaudette had a good game tonight. The result could have easily been 4-0 without him. All in all, good performance from Columbus, they had more chances and they took them. A well deserved 3 points but some poor officiating on both sides.

Not a good start to the tournament but it is not the end of the world. Now the Islanders must plan for their next group stage match away to Saprissa.

In less than half an hour of game, the Islanders already had 3 yellow cards: Cristian Arrieta (18′), Nick Addlery (19′) and Bill Gaudette 28′.

The Islanders best opportunity to score came on the 36′ when Petter Villegas missed a shot after a pass from Nick Addlery.

After a scoreless halftime; just within a minute of the Islanders making their first substitution of the night on the 57′ (Domenic Mediate for Petter Villegas), Steven Lenhart scored a goal (58′) for the Columbus Crew. Assist by C. Marshall.

Then on the 79′ Robbie Rogers scored the second Columbus Crew on a defensive mishap by Cristian Arrieta. Alejandro Moreno got the assist.

Colin “General” Clarke was missing from the bench as he was serving the 3rd and final game suspension due to an incident at the end of the CFU Championship game.

Kendall Jagdeosingh was missing from the roster due a dubious red card he received on the last CCL game against Toronto FC.

The Islanders starting lineup included: Bill Gaudette, Jonathan Steele, Scott Jones, Nigel Henry, Martin Nuñez, Petter Villegas, Cristian Arrieta, Noah Delgado, Sandy Gbandi, John Krause and Nick Addlery.

It took less than 15 minutes for the Islanders to get the 2 winning goals. Within the first minute of the game, former Carolina Railhawks‘ Martin Nuñez (from Uruguay) found a loose ball in front of the Crew’s goal and scored the first goal of the preseason for the Islanders. On the 13th minute the Islanders doubled their lead for good when Puertorican National Noah Delgado scored off an assist from the 2008 USL First Division Most Valuable Player Jonathan Steele.

On the 20th minute the Crew had their first of two casualties when their starting goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum left the match due to an ankle injury. On the 30th minute Columbus forward Steven Lenhart picked up a red card. Since the match was an exhibition, the Crew was not forced to go a man down, so Lenhart was replaced. The Crew picked up three more yellow cards in the 2nd half.

The only substitution for the Islanders in the 2nd half was Josh Hansen for Villegas.

The USL Regular Season Champions’ defense held the Crew scoreless and mantained the 2-0 lead for the rest of the game resulting in the defeat of the defending MLS Champions. It was the first win for the Islanders in the preseason, and they now have a 1-1-1 record in the MLS friendlies, with one more MLS team to go, the DC United at Juan Ramón Loubriel stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.

In an oficial team press release, ‘General’ Colin Clarke said: “As we finish this phase of pre-season, the trip could not have finished on a more positive note as we beat Columbus Crew, the current MLS champions by a score 2-0 this morning at the IMG center in Bradenton. The team played very very well today and created numerous chances and could have scored some more goals. Defensively we were very sound and Columbus struggled to create any clear cut openings. With a little bit of luck and better finishing the score could have been much more flattering. The players have worked very hard and are looking forward to returning back to PR to face the exciting challenges ahead with DC United on February 21st and CD Marathon at home on February 26th”.

The Islanders will play their next preseason game tomorrow against the Bulls from the University of South Florida at 11am EST.

The following returning players were present at the practice: Bill Gaudette (2008 USL Goalie of the Year), Jonathan Steele (2008 USL MVP), Christian Arrieta (2008 USL Defender of the Year), Noah Delgado, Alexis Rivera, Andres Cabrero, Daniel Ojeda, John Krause, Sandy Gbandi, Nigel Henry, William Yomby, James Marcelin, Osei Telesford and Justin Myers.

The following new faces (all with previous USL experience) joined the team in the first day of practice: Nick Addlery (Vancouver Whitecaps), Martin Nuñez (Carolina Railhawks) and Sean Fraser (Miami FC). Former MLS Red Bulls’ Kevin Mesa, and two “imported” newcomers, Kevon Villaroel (Trinidad & Tobago) and Nicolas Torres (Argentina), were also at the practice.

Returning Islander players missing at the practice yesterday were Petter Villegas (arrives today), Kendall Jagdeosingh (away playing with the Trinidad & Tobago National Team), and Fabrice Noël.

As for the preseason games, the quality of the 2009 opponents will be nothing like 2008’s. In last year’s preseason the Islanders (in preparation of their May encounter with the San Juan Jabloteh from Trinidad & Tobago to define the 3rd Caribbean team to play in the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League) defeated the University of Central Florida Knights (6-1), the USA Under-17 team (6-0) and Florida’s PDL team Panama City Pirates (1-0).

This year the Islanders (in preparation of their February-March encounter with Marathon from Honduras in the quarterfinals of the inaugural CONCACAF League of Champions) will face four MLS teams in the preseason: the Chicago Fire (Feb 7), the 2008 Western Conference Champion New York Red Bulls (Feb 9), the 2008 MLS Champion Columbus Crew (Feb 12) and DC United (Feb 21). The Islanders will also face the Bulls from the University of South Florida on Feb 13.