Whitecaps and Puerto Rico tie 0-0 in rain-soaked match
BAYAMON, Puerto Rico (CP) - After a messy match on a waterlogged, puddle-filled pitch, neither the Vancouver Whitecaps nor the Puerto Rico Islanders scored a goal Sunday, leaving the game tied at 0-0.
Heavy rain delayed the kick off 75 minutes but officials ruled the pitch playable. Despite the ruling, passing was nearly impossible in several sections of the field where the ball would splash to a halt.
The first potential goal came in the game's 13th minute when Islanders top scorer Alberto Zapata fired a shot from 14 yards that was easily blocked by goalkeeper Richard Goddard.
In the 24th minute, Whitecaps' Joey Gjertsen fired a 22-yard shot which goalkeeper Josh Saunders gathered at the second attempt. At 37 minutes, Gjertsen swung in a good cross to Eduardo Sebrango, whose diving header from 12 yards flew just wide of the left post.
Puerto Rico almost scored a bizarre goal with a quarter hour remaining. A long punt from Josh Saunders took a high bounce off the turf at the edge of the Whitecaps' penalty area and went over the head of Goddard, who misjudged the ball. It bounced just wide of the left post.
Goddard was caught out of position again five minutes later when when he gave Melvin Tarley a chance at an empty net with an overhead kick, which he sent just over the bar.
