RED BULLS-P.R. ISLANDERS LIVE

We’re here live from Field 1 at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, as your Red Bulls take on the Puerto Rico Islanders of USL-1. It’s a warm and sunny day out here as we look for our first preseason win of the year. Puerto Rico, currently one of the last eight teams in the CONCACAF Champions League, were the 2008 runners-up in last year’s USL-1 tournament.

As was the case in the last two scrimmages, the Red Bulls will trot out two sepearate lineups for each of the 45-minute halves. Here is the first half lineup for New York:

————————–St. Preux————————–

Kandji————————————————Mbuta

———————Roth———-Zimmerman————–

————————–Gutierrez—————————

Saintil————Palguta——–Mendes———–Parratt

—————————Cepero—————————-

First Half: Danny Cepero, Jerry Saintil, Scott Palguta, Carlos Mendes, Tom Parratt, Carlos Gutierrez, David Roth, Nick Zimmerman, Macoumba Kandji, Matthew Mbuta, Lionel St. Preux

Some familiar faces on Puerto Rico: Former midfielder Kevin Mesa came over to say hi, as did 2008 trailist Martin Nunez. Goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who has trained with the team and played with the Columbus Crew, is Puerto Rico’s starting goalkeeper. Head coach Colin Clarke is FC Dallas’ former coach.

AND WE’RE OFF

1′ We’ll try to give you as much info on the Islanders as possible but they do not have a numbered roster on their site.

4′ Kandji glides past the defender on the left wing before putting in a low cross that is booted away for the Red Bulls’ first corner.

6′ Looks like Puerto Rico is playing a 4-5-1.

12′ Zimmerman floats a good cross into the box that Roth almost gets to but Gaudette punches it away.

14′ Puerto Rico with the best chance of the match when their winger hits a deflected shot that Cepero parries away. Another Islanders player is on hand to hit in the rebound but Mendes deflects it over the bar.

16′ If this makes sense to any Islanders fans, here is how Puerto Rico is lined up (numbers):

———–11———

9——–15———5

——0—–22——-

2—4——12——26

——Gaudette——-

17′ Zimmerman, who has been lively in the opening minutes, led a Red Bulls break but it did not result to anything.

19′ Red Bulls with their best chance of the match. Kandji again sprints down the left wing before centering to St. Preux, who puts it over the bar from inside the penalty box.

20′ By the way, Nunez is #9 for Puerto Rico. Mesa is on the bench. And Petter Villegas is on the bench too.

21′ Kandji again troubles the Islanders’ defense and slides the ball to St. Preux. But Gaudette is there to gather it in before the Haitian forward gets there.

24′ Puerto Rico #3 on for the only Islander without a number. We’ll call him “Serge” since that’s what the coach was calling him.

30′ Mbuta cuts back to the top of the box and knocks his shot just left.

35′ Still 0-0 at this point.

39′ Parratt puts a ball into the box from the right wing and Mbuta has a free header but he nods it wide.

HALFTIME: Red Bulls 0, Puerto Rico 0. We’ll have a new XI on the field in the second half and we’ll put it up as soon as we can.

Second Half Lineup: Caleb Patterson-Sewell, Danleigh Borman, Gordon Kljestan, Ryan Mirsky, Chris Leitch, Jeremy Hall, Mohammed Mashriqi, Saja Leigh, Nico Colaluca, Juan Manuel Perez Bernal, John Wolyniec

Apologies, Cepero in for second half. Looks like Puerto Rico is using an entirely different XI except for #3.

And we’re off.

47′ Here’s how New York is lining up.

—————————-Wolyniec——————————-

Perez Bernal———————————————Colaluca

——————-Hall————–Mashriqi———————-

——————————–Leigh——————————-

Borman———Kljestan————-Mirsky————–Leitch

——————————-Cepero———————————

48′ Puerto Rico’s “Andreas” hits a shot that Cepero pokes away for a corner. Cepero punches away the ensuing corner.

55′ Still 0-0 with both teams not having any significant chances.

57′ Good buildup on the left side of the field leads to Hall getting space in the top of the 18-yard box but his shot is punched away by the ‘keeper.

60′ Nothing of note has occurred. On another note, Petter Villegas and Kevin Mesa are playing in the second half for Puerto Rico.

64′ Leitch his a good corner but it is headed away by an Islanders defender.

65′ A dangerous Islanders cross into the box but Borman heads it away.

69′ In regards to questions about David Roth, he is completely healthy after having knee surgery at the beginning of last season. He came into better form later in the year andplayed well in the reserve league in 2008.

71′ Red Bulls with TWO chances! First, Mirsky hits on a Leitch corner that’s headed by Wolyniec. However, it’s cleared off the line by Puerto Rico. Then, Perez Bernal gets open on the left wing and unleashes a shot that’s pushed over the bar by the ‘keeper.

74′ Puerto Rico trying to threaten but the Red Bulls are doing a good job of clearing the ball and staying close to the Islanders’ attackers.

80′ Sorry, had some computer problems. 10 mins left.

82′ The game has stopped after one of the Puerto Rico players with no number on his jersey went in for a crunching challenge on Leigh. Trainers are out to treat him but he’s able to get up.

85′ Wolyniec makes a fantastic turn in the right side of the box and puts in a low cross but no one is able to tap it towards the net.

88′ Villegas almost puts an attacker through but Mirsky is there to clear it away.

90′ Colaluca and Perez Bernal play a nifty 1-2 but Colaluca’s close range shot is blocked. Corner is punched away and ensuing Perez Bernal shot is high.

FINAL 0-0. We’ll have some post-game reaction later tonight on the blog.

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