Battery stalls in opening game of two in Puerto Rico

Islanders 3, Battery 1

Bayamon, Puerto Rico — Forward Fabrice Noel led the way with two goals Friday night as the Puerto Rico Islanders cruised past the visiting Charleston Battery, 3-1, at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium.

A crowd of 6,512 saw the Battery fall to 5-7-5 (20 points) and into seventh place in the USL-First Division soccer standings.

The Islanders created the first chance of the game in seventh minute with a quick lofted cross into the box. Midfielder Alejandro Gonzalez held off his defender to get a shot away but his right foot volley flew wide of the target.

Puerto Rico then opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when midfielder Noah Delgado whipped a cross into the middle from the left side. Noel met the cross but his header bounced off the goalpost. Noel was quickest to the loose ball and drove a shot home past Battery goalkeeper Dusty Hudock into the left corner of the goal.

Charleston, though, replied within five minutes. The ball was worked out to the left side then slipped in quickly behind

the Islanders defense by Lazo Alavanja. Battery midfielder Gordon Chin ran to meet the pass and, as Islanders goalkeeper Josh Saunders approached Chin, chipped the ball into the goal from ten yards out.

Puerto Rico regained the lead in the 54th minute with a second goal from Noel. Defender Jay Needham crossed the ball to the forward who connected on a header past a diving Hudock from inside the penalty area.

The Islanders put the game out of reach three minutes later with a third strike. After conceding a corner, Charleston failed to clear the ball as it was driven across. Defender Marco Velez was unmarked at the back post and lashed the ball into the goal.