8/5/2011- SAN ANTONIO: The Islanders took three points away from home against the top of the table San Antonio Scorpions Sunday night. A two goal preformence from Nicholas Addlery was enough to outlast the NASL leaders on Sunday Night. The goals from Addlery came on each side of the halftime whistle. Pablo Campos netted his NASL leading 16th goal, but it was the visiting side that took the full bounty at Heroes Stadium. With the win, the Islander move within a single point of the NASL league points lead. The Islanders’ next match will be against FC Edmonton at Clarke Stadium on Sunday, August 12th. As always, fans can watch the game at the Islanders' Watch Party in Coladas Fine Puerto Rican Cuisine and Frozen Drink Bar at Verdanza Hotel in Isla Verde, starting at 3 in the afternoon.
Islanders’ Manager Adrian Whitbread was thrilled after the match: “Like I have been saying all week- there are no excuses. It is with that mentality that we got three points tonight. The players were unbelievable and today we showed our depth as a team”.
Both teams launched early attacks to start the match, with the Scorpions first chance coming off a corner in the 2nd minute. Esteban Bayona’s header hurried wide of Richard Martin's net.
Islanders’ Hector “Pito” Ramos came close in the 5th minute after a give and go up the gut of the Scorpions defense, but the hurried shot did not bring about a goal. Nicholas Addlery lashed a snap volley in the 8th minute that also flashed wide.
Puerto Rico’s skipper Noah Delgado swashbuckled his way into the attacking third and created a clear cut chance for his centerback Anthony Vazquez for an open first timer. Vazquez could only scuff the left footed effort. Later, Ramos misguided an open header wide and, while the Islanders looked threatening, they could not provide the finishing touch.
But the final touch arrived in the 31st minute. In immediate redemption for the open chance miss, Hector Ramos orchestrated another give and go pass at the top of the box. Addlery coolly finished with the side of his foot once he found himself one on one with the keeper. After scoring mid-week against A.D Isidro Metapán, Addlery has scored in two consecutive games. That goal brought his tally to 7 on the year. He would later add to that total. It was Ramos’ first assist of the year.
The half ended with the score PR Islanders up 1-0 on the San Antonio Scorpions.
The Islanders came out of the tunnel with full intent. Addlery forced a strong save from the Scorpions in the 47th. Just 3 minutes later, the second goal came. Justin Fojo sent a ranging long ball over the top, to which Addlery fetched and finished calmly again for 2-0.
The scorpions pushed to cut the deficit. The injection of Dutchman #10 Hans Denissen provided a positive spark to the Scorpion’s attack.
It was with 20 minutes to play that Pablo Campos notched his 16th goal of the season, breaking away and narrowing the score to 2-1. The Brazilian striker beat Islanders' keeper Richard Martin to the loose ball and powerfully headed home just in time.
The goal only proved to be a consolation. For, try as they might, the Scorpions couldn’t match the Islanders’ two-goal lead. The Islanders move up to second place in the NASL and look to be in prime position for an NASL playoff run and CONACAF Champions League success as they enter the Estadio Juan Ramon Loubriel on August 18th.
