USLSoccer
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – The Los Angeles Blues continued their unbeaten start to the USL PRO season as a pair of goals by Tomislav Colic keyed a 4-2 victory against Puerto Rico United at the Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker on Wednesday night.
Colic scored in both the 29th and 59th minutes, and the Blues got additional goals from Mike Randolph and Akeem Priestley. PRU pulled within a goal in the second half thanks to a pair of goals by Hector Ramos, but Priestley’s first of the season sealed the game for the Blues.
After a balanced opening to the game that saw United try to press the Blues and take them out of their rhythm. But then the organized and patient Blues began to find their stride and at almost the half-hour mark Colic was played in by Priestley and opened the scoring.
United continued to try to press, but the Blues extended their lead four minutes before halftime as Walter Gaitan provided Mike Randolph with the opportunity for a fiercely struck shot to give Los Angeles a 2-0 halftime lead.
Colic then added his second, appearing to put the game out of reach, but PRU managed a brief rally behind Ramos, who found the back of the net in the 66th and 78th minutes to pull United within a goal.
Just as quickly as United appeared to be back in the game, Priestley ended their hopes of taking any points from the contest with a finish in the 83rd minute, while United’s Ramos added a red card to his two goals in stoppage time for violent conduct.
PR United will now hit the road to face Orlando City at the Citrus Bowl on Friday night still in search of their first win of the season. Los Angeles will have a chance to complete a perfect four-game road trip to start the season on Saturday night when it faces River Plate Puerto Rico at the Estadio Roberto Clemente Walker.
