0-1 min. 1 Joey Gjertsen -VAN
0-2 min. 42 David Testo - VAN
1-2 min. 57 Kormac Valdebenito - PR (PK)
1-3 min. 82 Sita-Taty Matondo - VAN
BAYAMON, PR - Despite a valiant effort the Puerto Rico Islanders fell in their own Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium to the Vancouver Whitecaps by a 3-1 margin on a key Friday night match.
Joey Gjertsen's early goal for Vancouver at just 50 seconds into play complicated things for the Islanders, who were in front of a well-organized team with a rock solid defense. Petter Villegas was especially active running up and down the left flank, but the Whitecaps' central defenders kept Villegas's crosses from getting to the Islander forwards.
Marco Vélez denied David Testo a goal in the 20th minute after the Vancouver player had Islander goalkeeper Dan Kennedy already beat, but Testo eventually put the 0-2 on the scoreboard in the 42nd minute on a fast Vancouver counterattack. Jeff Clarke got credited with the assist.
The Islanders did not surrender at all and came out in the second half with a lot of energy, with Kormac Valdebenito notably active in the home team's offensive advances. After ten minutes of the second half one of Valdebenito's shots was stopped by Vancouver goalkeeper Tony Caig. However, Caig fouled Islander Alen Marcina inside the box on the play. After a brief consultation with one of his linesmen the referee called the penalty kick. Valdebenito took it and scored.
At that time Vancouver had been left with only ten men after a direct red card shown to Steve Kindel due to unsportsmanlike behavior.
Four minutes after Valdebenito's score, Villegas came within inches of tying the match with a header that breezed just above the crossbar. The Islanders continued their offensive pressure, but Sita-Taty Matondo eventually sealed Vancouver's victory with a goal in the 82nd minute on another well executed counterattack.
