1-0 min. 45 Alan Marcina -PR
2-0 min. 95 Alan Marcina -PR
BAYAMON, PR - The Islanders earned a huge 2-0 victory over the Minnesota Thunder in a Sunday afternoon USL 1st Division match-up, played at Juán Ramón Loubriel Stadium in Bayamón in front of 4,251 fans. Alan Marcina became the hero for the Islanders, scoring two remarkable goals that allow Puerto Rico to dream about the playoffs, especially after losses by key rivals such as Seattle Sounders and Atlanta Silverbacks.
Alejandro González almost got the first score of the game in the 24th minute, but Minnesota's keeper Joe Warren made a brilliant acrobatic save on Gonzalez's free kick from just outside the box. The Thunder were organized and solid on defense and it looked like they would maintain the scoreless tie all the way to halftime. Alan Marcina shattered that thought in the 45th minute, when he penetrated through the Minnesota defense and blasted a shot past Warren for the 1-0 Islander lead.
The Islanders's situation became complicated with Gonzalez's send-off on two yellow cards in the 64th minute, but Minnesota inexplicably did not take advantage of the situation, largely due to a steady defense and ball control by the Islanders. Brian Kallman's send-off in the 84th minute evened each team at 10 players on the field.
Near the end Thunder substitutes Kiki Lara and Leo Gibson came very close to tying the match with scoring chances but could not convert. Marcina then sealed the deal in the fifth minute of stoppage time with a sensational breakaway that ended in him getting the ball into the nets for the second time, giving his Islanders the definitive 2-0 score.
With the win the Puerto Rico Islanders move into a tie for sixth place with the Seattle Sounders, both at 34 points. Meanwhile the Thunder are eliminated with the loss.
The Islanders's last two games are against Miami FC, another team fighting for the remaining playoff spots. If the Islanders manage to win both they are virtually guaranteed entry into the playoffs.
Both matches will be played at the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon, Puerto Rico; the first on Friday, September 8 at 8:00 PM and the second on Sunday, September 10 at 5:00 PM.
