1-0 Min. 14 Gustavo Barros Schelotto-PR
2-0 Min. 51 Kormac Valdebenito-PR (PK)
3-0 Min. 53 Joshua Kaleb Norkus-PR
3-1 Min. 56 Andrew Gregor-SEA (PK)
4-1 Min. 64 Gustavo Barros Schelotto-PR
ATTENDANCE: 3,048
BAYAMON, PR - In a game they pretty much dominated throughout, the Puerto Rico Islanders easily beat the Seattle Sounders, defending USL 1st Division Champions, by a 4-1 score, with two goals by Gustavo Barros Schelotto.
The Islanders took advantage of the tough times the Seattle club is going through and attacked early and often. It only took less than a quarter of an hour to put the Sounders against the ropes, with an early goal by Schelotto. It all started when John Queeley lofted a ball to Arturo Norambuena who was at the edge of the box. Norambuena passed the ball into the box to Schelotto while the defender covering him, Stephen Keel, slipped in the turf. That allowed the Islander striker to blast one past a helpless David Mahoney for the 1-0 lead.
Shortly after the second half began, the Islanders appeared to put the match away with two goals in two minutes. In the 51st minute of play, Petter Villegas was fouled by goalkeeper Mahoney in the penalty area and referee Kenneth Heller called the penalty kick. Kormac Valdebenito executed it perfectly for the 2-0 score. Two minutes later a brilliant quick counterattack allowed Joshua Caleb Norkus to break away form the Seattle defense and, with only the goalkeeper Mahoney to beat, shot it past him and into the nets for number three on the night for Puerto Rico.
Seattle reduced the lead in the 56th minute when their best striker in the match, Cam Weaver, was fouled inside the box. Andrew Gregor scored on the ensuing penalty kick. Seattle looked like they would wake up, but Schelotto put the Sounders to sleep with another beautiful goal in the 64th minute on another lethal Islander counterattack.
Seattle, who could only get some plays from Weaver after the 4-1, could not react and the Puerto Rico Islanders came out victorious Friday night at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium.
The Puerto Rico Islanders next face last-place Toronto Lynx this Sunday, June 18 at 5:00 p.m. in Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón.
