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Associated Press | ESPN.GO.COM
CARSON, Calif. — Nicolas Addlery scored two goals to lead the Puerto Rico Islanders to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions’ League on Tuesday night.
David Foley and Josh Hansen also scored for the Islanders, a member of the United Soccer League’s first division. The Galaxy scored on an own goal by Puerto Rico defender Richard Martinez.
«I was pretty surprised,» Islanders coach Colin Clarke said. «We knew coming in here that it was going to be a tough night for us. But we deserved it. Our boys worked very hard.»
Clarke said the victory reflected a balanced game plan.
«They have some very, very good players that we had to try to contain and we managed to do it,» Clarke said. «We also knew that when we got the ball, we had to keep it. I think we did a great job of passing and moving.»
Islanders goalkeeper Bill Gaudette, who played for the Columbus Crew during the 2005-06 season, made seven saves.
«We knew he was going to be busy,» Clarke said of Gaudette, who faced 23 shots. «But he came up with the saves. He’s done that for us over the last two years, particularly in this competition.
«I’d like to think with expansion [in Major League Soccer] coming up, there’s a chance that Bill will get somewhere.»
The winner of the two-game series, determined by overall goals scored, will advance to the group stage. The second game will take place August 4 in San Juan.
«Our effort was good; our execution was not,» Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. «Their effort was outstanding.»
Foley gave Puerto Rico a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute. Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza headed David Horst’s 14-yard header off Hansen’s corner kick away from the net, but Foley converted the loose ball from 2 yards.
Horst kept Los Angeles from scoring the tying goal in the 31st minute by clearing Sean Franklin’s 8-yard shot away from an open net.
Addlery made it 2-0 in the 45th minute with an 8-yard shot off Galaxy goalkeeper Josh Saunders’ hand.
«The two goals in the first should not be scored against us,» Arena said. «Our experienced players didn’t have a good night for us.»
Hansen’s 29-yard line drive in the 56th minute extended the lead to 3-0. Addlery scored his second goal in the 81st minute on a 19-yard line drive for a 4-0 advantage.
Martinez deflected Edson Buddle’s shot into his own net in the 83rd minute.
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