September 16, 2009
A WILD ONE
Islanders, Gaudette in 3-3 tie with Azul

BAYAMON, Puerto Rico – In a CONCACAF Champions League thriller, the rematch of this spring’s tournament semifinals determined via penalties did not disappoint as the USL First Division Puerto Rico Islanders played Mexican Primera side Cruz Azul to a 3-3 draw Tuesday night.

The match was packed with exciting action with shots off the woodwork in first and last minutes of the game with six goals in between.

Puerto Rico’s Cristian Arrieta, Fabrice Noel and Nicholas Addlery gave Puerto Rico a 3-1 lead at halftime with Pablo Zeballos scoring in each half for Cruz Azul along with Alejandro’s equalizer.

Puerto Rico goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, a former St. John's standout, has been superb for the Islanders this season, but he could not stop Cruz Azul's attack.

The resulted ended a four-game winning streak for Cruz Azul in Champions League and league action and snapped a three-game Champions League shutout streak. It also left Mexican sides winless in Puerto Rico, where the Islanders defeated Santos Laguna in group play, 3-1, last year and blanked Cruz Azul in the first leg of their semifinal series 2-0 in March.