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120 Minutes of Play Lead to Penalty Kicks and a 3-1 Win for RSL

June 15, 2016 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Wilmington Hammerheads FC News Release


On a beautiful eighty-degree evening in Salt Lake City, Rio Tinto stadium welcomed the Wilmington Hammerheads to kick off the fourth round of the 2016 Open Cup in front of 17,131 fans.

RSL and Wilmington both sit in the middle of their respective conferences. RSL has spent the last five games on the road, while the Hammerheads have had two away and three home matches.

Within the 8th minute, the Hammerheads #23 Bruno Perone sent a long ball into RSLs defensive end where #22 forward Kyle Parker was stopped by RSLs incredible speed. Moments later in the 10th minute, RSLs #11 Javier Morales was given the first corner kick of the match, just to be denied by powerhouse defender Perone.

Although RSL displayed speed from the start of the game, it was Hammerheads #7 Austin Martz who proved to be quicker on his feet. A mistake made by RSL allowed Martz to fire a close shot on goal during the 11th minute, but #24 goalkeeper Jeff Attinella came through with a strong save. Nearly one minute later, #11 Javier Morales gave Wilmington's goalkeeper John Smits a go, resulting in a quick reaction by Smits for a save.

Midfielder #10 Justin Moose displayed an incredible save in their defensive end; which resulted in his breakaway during the 16th minute. Down the sidelines, Moose controlled the ball and fired a low shot just to be saved by Attinella.

Throughout the first half the Hammerheads kept it central, while RSL played the sidelines. Each style of play was critical to each team, holding dangerous advantages. RSL applied pressure utilizing their speed, against the Hammerheads short and quick passes, but the Hammerheads maintained control.

In the 24th minute, Martz with a tug on RSLs #7 Juan Manuel Martinez lead to a free kick just outside the 18-yard box with a deflection by Smits.

Former Hammerhead, #19 Luke Mulholland received a yellow card for RSL during the 28th minute, followed by #8 Mael Corboz's yellow card in the 30th minute with a slide from behind.

Martz continued to apply pressure firing another shot, ending wide during the 32nd minute. It wasn't until the 34th minute that the Hammerheads dedication paid off, where Moose and Martz lead a breakaway. Moose crossed the ball to the top of the 18 where it met Corboz who found the back of the net for the first goal of the game.

During the 40th minute, RSLs Morales took a "short corner" free kick. Smits dove through the crowd with a mid-air save, denying the MLS team an opportunity to score.

The Hammerheads did an impressive job shutting RSL down in the center of the field throughout the first half; with powerhouse starters Liam Miller, Mael Corboz, Austin Martz, and Justin Moose. Wilmington had better chances to score, and a result of one, by Corboz; where RSL had a few possession spells, but resulted in nothing.

RSL continued into the second half a step behind the Hammerheads. RSL continued to push, making minimal advancements in the center of the field, but had no offensive support even in the 52nd minute.

Deflection off of an RSL defender in the 58th minute resulted in another goal for the Hammerheads, earned #10 Justin Moose.

In the 60th minute #47 Ashani Fairclough pulled in a yellow card just outside the 18-yard box, which resulted in a free kick that lead to another wide shot by RSL.

After a difficult push, #10 powerhouse Joao Plata fired a shot during the 65th minute scoring an incredible goal in the top left of the net, with an assist by Morales. After RSLs first goal, a fire was lit pushing back against the Hammerheads who dominated the game until this point.

Plata with a cross during the 69th minute to Morales required a jumping save by Smits to push the ball over the net. This resulted in the seventh corner kick for RSL where Smits made another save, stopping a potential equalizer from Mulholland. Smits had his work cut out by the power team Morales and Plata, but displayed nothing but resiliency.

In the 80th minute #14 Logan Miller took a shot 15 yards out with a great save by Attinella. Miller's denial was met with another bold save, when a breakaway into the 6 for RSL met Smits reflexes.

RSLs #7 Juan Manuel Martinez scored goal number two in the 87th minute with a low shot to the bottom right corner, sneaking by Smits.

With four minutes of stoppage time, the Hammerheads continued to put up a good fight against RSL, who came back from a 2-0 loss to tie it up.

As the Hammerheads and RSL met a 2-2 tie after 90 minutes of play, the game continued into an additional 30 minutes of overtime.

RSL took control of the ball within the first minute of overtime, when a mistake made by the Hammerheads during the 4th minute allowed a free kick for RSL just 25 yards from the Hammerheads goal; a danger zone for Plata. Plata took the free kick, just skimming the crossbar. Hammerheads rebutted with a free kick not a minute later taken by Corboz resulting in a high header by Miller.

Hammerheads substitute defender #2 Tom Parratt received a yellow card during the 13th minute. As both teams entered the final 15 minutes of overtime, both teams showed tired legs, but skillful determination. Settling the ball, the Hammerheads maintained possession to calm the level of play. A brief lead for RSL sent #50 Sebastian Saucedo into the Hammerheads defensive end with yet another incredible stop by Smits.

Within the 29th minute, a yellow card was given to #21 Aaron Maund with a free kick taken by Corboz on the edge of the 18-yard. Attinella with a final great save, moved the teams into penalty kicks to earn the final result.

Perone took the first penalty kick, overshooting, followed by Martinez with a goal in the lower left corner. Corboz took the second penalty kick, equalizing the score. Plata, second up for RSL, snuck the ball past Smits inside the right post, taking the lead. #9 Matthew Barnes-Homer took the third penalty kick for the Hammerheads, but joined fellow teammate Perone, overshooting. Morales took the third penalty kick, but with a stumble, Smits made the save. Fourth shot for the Hammerheads was taken by captain #6 Liam Miller, which Attinella impressively saved. The final shot of the game came from #16 Chris Wingert with the winning goal.

Despite a great fight from the Hammerheads, and a final score of 3-1, RSL will advance in the 2016 Open Cup series.

Join the Hammerheads on Friday, June 17th as they welcome Bethlehem Steel FC to Legion Stadium at 7pm.

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