Carolina Comes Up Short at Charleston, 2-1
July 24, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. - The RailHawks' June swoon was marred by goals allowed on restarts (nine over five games). Over the course of their five-match winning streak during the last three weeks, they didn't allow a single one and seemed to have corrected their problems defending set pieces.
On Friday night, those problems re-emerged. Charleston scored two first-half goals off corner kicks and dealt the RailHawks a 2-1 defeat - their first since June 27 - at Blackbaud Stadium.
"It's frustrating. You've got to go with your man. If you don't, you get punished," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "We know their dangerous guys. We had guys on them. They just won the ball. That was disappointing."
The RailHawks (9-5-3) had a chance, with a bit of help with other results around the league, to be at the top of the USL First Division by the end of the weekend. Instead, they made the trip to Charleston and came away empty handed. On top of the defeat, they will lose the services of midfield stalwarts Daniel Paladini and Amir Lowery for one of the next two games (likely next weekend's match against Austin) after both picked up their fifth yellow card of the season on Friday.
The Battery (9-3-8) appeared ripe for the picking. They were winless over their previous four matches (0-2-2), including a 1-0 loss to Carolina in Charleston on July 11. Charleston was without four starters due to injury and goalkeeper Dusty Hudock - the league leader in shutouts (11) and goals against average (.251) - was on the bench serving a red card suspension.
But Carolina didn't capitalize, and the Battery didn't look the least bit wounded.
Charleston threatened early, with Tsuyoshi Yoshitake and Matt Bobo offering a glimpse of what was to come. On a third-minute free kick, Yoshitake served a ball to Bobo, who headed the ball toward goal. It trickled across the goal line and the RailHawks cleared it. Had the ball gone in, the goal would have been disallowed, as Bobo was ruled offside.
In the 22nd minute, Charleston's Stephen Armstrong hit the post on a 25-yard free kick, and defender Frankie Sanfilippo got the rebound and hit the ball over the frame.
Yoshitake and Bobo got it right later in the first half when they hooked up for the game's first goal in the 31st minute. On a corner kick, Yoshitake served an in-swinging ball and Bobo rose above the defense and headed it past Carolina goalkeeper Eric Reed.
The Battery doubled its lead eight minutes later. After the RailHawks cleared Yoshitake's initial ball from a corner kick, Charleston's Scott Buete collected the ball about 40 yards from goal. Buete chipped a masterful ball over the Carolina defense, and Tom Heinemann laid out and smashed it in on a diving header.
Throughout the first half, the RailHawks were unable to maintain possession or build much of an attack. Charleston goalkeeper Keith Wiggans had to come up big in the fifth minute when Brian Plotkin turned and hit a quick shot from a tough angle. Wiggans tipped it wide and was never challenged again until late in the match.
"The game was a flat game," Rennie said. "They were flat, and we were really flat. We didn't start well, and we didn't play well at all in the first half. They got the territorial advantage and managed to get two goals on the back of that."
The RailHawks didn't threaten again until the 72nd minute. Off a corner kick, Paladini spotted Caleb Norkus on the back post but Norkus' redirected the ball wide.
The RailHawks added some intrigue to the final five minutes when Luke Kreamalmeyer drew a goal back for Carolina. On a free kick by Paladini, Kreamalmeyer was unmarked on the back post and he hit the ball in off a short hop for his third goal of the season.
The RailHawks had one last chance in stoppage time to equalize. John Cunliffe served a ball into the box on a corner kick. The ball bounced around, but no one was able to get a clean touch and put a shot on goal.
The RailHawks will have no time to dwell on Friday's defeat. They return to the field on Sunday at 2 p.m. to face Miami at WakeMed Soccer Park. Though a return to the top of the table will have to wait at least another week, with a win Sunday, the RailHawks will set a new club record for wins in a season.
Though it'll be a quick turnaround, Rennie likes have the chance to get right back on the field.
"It' good. We get to play right away and rectify the mistakes we made [Friday]," he said. "We've been playing well recently. You have to learn from your mistakes and move on. That's what it's all about. We're doing pretty well still. Now the next game's important and we have to focus on that."
USL First Division Stories from July 24, 2009
- Paulo Araujo Jr. Leads the Blues in Important Road Victory - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- Thunder Breaks Three Game Winning Streak with a 2-1 Loss to Miami FC Blues - Minnesota Thunder
- Carolina Comes Up Short at Charleston, 2-1 - North Carolina FC
- Impact Faces The Aztex In Austin Saturday - Montreal Impact
- The 14th Champions Trophy Saturday at Olympic Stadium - Montreal Impact
- Match Preview: Aztex vs. Impact - Austin Aztex
- City Stars Travel To New York To Take On Rochester Saturday - Cleveland City Stars
- Timbers, Islanders Battle To Hard-Fought Draw - Portland Timbers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
