USSF Div2 Finals: Islanders 2-0 Railhawks (Leg-1)

By: BoriQa | October 24th, 2010

Sandi Gbandi opened the 2010 USSF Div2 Finals scoreboard on the 49th minute, and Jonathan Faña scored an insurance goal on the 89th minute, to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead over the Carolina Railhawks in Bayamón, in the 1st-Leg of the Championship Series.

On the 40th minute the Islanders celebrated what appeared to be their first goal of the game by Sandi Gbandi, but his goal was strangely-annulled, apparently due to a foul inside of the box.

On the 49th minute, Sandy Gbandi again (this time unmarked) took a (really, really…) long throw-in from Marco Velez and volleyed it past RailHawks’ goalkeeper Eric Reed for the 1-0 lead.

2nd half Railhawks’ substitute Gregory Richardson (who entered the match in the 69th minute) crossed to Josh Gardner in the 73rd minute, and the latter’s left-foot volley was blocked by the Islanders’ “Wall”: Bill Gaudette.

Gaudette again made an expectacular save on the 79th minute, by deflecting on the last second a mean-spirited 30-yard rocket by RailHawks’ defender Kupono Low. Low played for the Puerto Rico National Team in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in 2008.

With the RailHawks pushing forward, the Islanders counter-attacked against the disorganized “passerine” defense in the 87th minute when 2nd-half substitute Jonathan Faña split Carolina’s backline and shot past the Railhawks’ goalie to score the Islanders’ second goal of the match.

Faña celebrated his goal by taking his jersey off (to show a message about his Religious Faith on a T-Shirt underneath).

This action earned Faña his 2nd yellow card of the playoffs, which makes him automatically lose the next match, the 2nd-leg in Carolina next weekend… (what was he thinking?!?!)

Josh Hansen, Chris Nurse and David Foley failed to convert scoring chances in the 20th, 58th and 65th minutes.

Gaudette finished the night with three big 2nd-half saves, while facing 6 shots (all of them in the 2nd half).

Nick Addlery and Kevon Villaroel were missing from the lineup tonight due to injuries, as well as David Horst due to accumulation of yellow cards.

After serving his one-game suspension, David Horst should be back on the bench next weekend.

With this 2-0 win, the Islanders shutout 4-0 their USSF Div2 Playoff opponents at home in Bayamón this year. The Islanders defeated Rochester 2-0 and drew 0-0 with Vancouver, in the 1st-Legs of the Quarterfinals and Semifinals respectively.

The 2nd Leg of the USSF Div2 Finals will be played next Saturday October 30th at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina.

Scoreline:

USSF Div2 Finals – 1st Leg

Islanders 2-0 Carolina Railhawks

October 24, 2010

(Islanders lead Finals with a 2-0 aggregate goals score)

Islanders Lineup:
Bill Gaudette; Alexis Rivera, Marco Velez, Richard Martinez, Emory Logan; Chris Nurse, Sandi Gbandi (Edwin Miranda 90′+), Noah Delgado; Kendall Jagdeosingh (Johnathan Faña 72′), Josh Hansen (Osei Telesford 89′), David Foley (Anthony Allison 82′)

Goals:
1. PRI: S. Gbandi 49′ (Islanders lead 1-0 on aggregate)
2. PRI: J. Faña 87′ (Islanders lead 2-0 on aggregate)

Yellow Cards:
1. PRI: K. Jagdeosingh 10′
2. CAR: Low 53′
3. CAR: J. Gardner 57′
4. PRI: J. Faña 87′

Location: Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, Bayamón, Puerto Rico