Revenge is sweet! Islanders defeat Whitecaps in season opener…

By: BoriQa | April 18th, 2009

Tonight the Islanders defeated the Whitecaps by a 2-1 score in the 2009 season opener for the Boricuas, to avenge last year’s USL-1 Final loss in Vancouver.

After Marcus Haber gave Vancouver an early 1-0 lead on the 2nd minute, the Islanders came from behind to win the game with 2 goals by former Whitecap Nicholas Addlery in minutes 6′ and 38′. Addlery has now scored 5 goals since arriving to Puerto Rico (3 goals in 4 games in the 2008-09 CONCACAF Champions League, and 2 goals in his 1st 2009 USL game).

Haber’s early goal gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead when Martin Nash’s free kick from the left-hand side of the Puerto Rico box found Luca Bellisomo at the far post. Bellisomo’s header deflected off an Islander to Haber who converted the goal. But the lead just lasted a few minutes, as Noah Delgado raced down the right flank and passed to Addlery, who put the ball past the Whitecap goalkeeper for his first goal to tie the game.

Then Addlery beat a Vancouver offside trap, to reach Cristian Arrieta’s pass, and race in to score his 2nd goal of the game on the 38th minute, making it 2-1 before running in celebration right past the Whitecaps bench.

The Islanders had 7 shots in the match, including 4 shots by Addlery, 2 shots by Petter Villegas, and single shots by Noah Delgado & Josh Hansen. Puerto Rican goalkeeper Bill “The Wall” (and “The Saint”) Gaudette saved 5 of the 7 Whitecaps shots.

This was the 2nd home win in a row for the Islanders over Vancouver (the previous home win was on September 5, 2008). The last Whitecap win at Juan Ramón Loubriel was on August 4, 2006. Since then Puerto Rico has won 2 and tied 2 in Bayamón.

Scoring Summary:
1. VAN – Marcus Haber (Luca Bellisomo) 2’
2. PRI – Nicholas Addlery (Noah Delgado) 6’
3. PRI – Nicholas Addlery (Cristian Arrieta) 38’

Cautions:
1. VAN – Dever Orgilll 79’
2. PRI – James Marcelin 80’

Puerto Rico Islanders Lineup:
Bill Gaudette, Scott Jones, Nigel Henry, John Krause, Cristian Arrieta, Noah Delgado (James Marcelin 63’), Peter Villegas (Fabrice Noel 87’), Sandy Gbandi, Domenic Mediate (Kendall Jagdeosingh 44′), Josh Hansen (Kyle Veris 87’), Nicholas Addlery

Subs not used: Chris McClellan, Andres Cabrero, Alexis Rivera

Vancouver Whitecaps FC Lineup:
Jay Nolly, Luca Bellisomo, Marco Reda, Wesley Charles, Takashi Hirano, Vicente Arze (Wesley Knight 63’), Martin Nash, Mason Trafford, Ethan Gage (Ansu Toure 45’); Marcus Haber (Dever Orgill 68’), Charles Gbeke

Subs not used: Diego Oliveira, Justin Thompson, Kenold Versailles, Tyrell Burgess

Attendance: 5,250