1-0 min. 10 Kormac Valdebenito- PR
2-0 min. 24 Alen Marcina-PR
2-1 min. 40 John Barry Nusum- VB
Attendance: 7,817
BAYAMON, PR - The Puerto Rico Islanders have become unbeatable at their Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
On Sunday afternoon the Puerto Rico Islanders defeated the Virgina Beach Mariners by a 2-1 margin at the Loubriel, after going up 2-0 before the half-hour mark and surviving a second half with one man down.
Only ten minutes in Kormac Valdebenito, from just outside the box, surprised Mariner goalkeeper Matt Nelson with a viciously potent shot that blazed straight into the right upper 90. Alen Marcina scored the Islanders' second goal in the 24th minute with an assist by Gustavo Barros Schelotto. Marcina was able to dribble past Nelson and place the ball into the empty nets.
Virginia Beach reduced the margin in the 40th minute of play with a precise header from striker John Barry Nusum. The match got more difficult for the Islanders when Alexis Rivera saw a direct red card for an aggression in stoppage time of the first half. Virginia Beach put increased pressure on the home team for there on out, but the Puerto Rico Islanders closed all the lanes in the back and held on strong.
Mariners Steve Shak and Leepaul Scroggins both had shots on goal early in the second half without much success. Puerto Rico held on and even manufactured some counter attacks, like in the 69th minute when Valdebenito broke away from the Mariner defense and only had Nelson to beat. Nelson came off his line very well and forced Valdebenito to shoot high over the crossbar.
Andrew Herman in the 72nd minute and Greg Simmonds in the 85th came very close to tying the score for the visitors, but both fell just short of their objective. The Islanders in the end were able to control possession of the ball and managed to run out the clock for yet another victory in home territory.
