City Islanders Battle to Draw in Cincinnati
Published on June 24, 2005 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Cincinnati, Ohio, June 24, 2005) - Sumed Ibrahim and Bernie Showers scored second half goals as the Harrisburg City Islanders (6-3-2, 20 points) earned a 2-2 draw with the Cincinnati Kings (4-4-4, 16) at Xavier University Soccer Complex on Saturday night. Though their winning streak ended at five games, the City Islanders upped their club record unbeaten run to six.
Facing two challenging adversaries - a determined Cincinnati side and oppressive heat and humidity - the City Islanders fell behind and fought back to snag a point. The Kings held a 1-0 lead into halftime, thanks to a Jeff Hughes score in the 43rd minute.
After regrouping at the break, Harrisburg tied the match eight minutes into the second frame, when Sumed Ibrahim found a loose ball and buried his third goal of the season from six yards out. And in the 64th minute, a halftime tactical tweak paid off for the City Islanders. Matt Tanzini, who entered the game at the half, beat his marker in the 18-yard box and drew a penalty kick. Forward Bernie Showers - another mid-game sub - cashed in the p.k. for a 2-1 lead.
The City Islanders, who defeated Pittsburgh 1-0 on Wednesday night to start their road trip, couldn't hold the lead for long, as striker George Kithas bagged Cincinnati's second goal in the 70th minute. Kithas' tally was the last of the night.
Both goalkeepers - Harrisburg's Dave Kern and Cincinnati's Brian Schaeper - finished with four saves.
"We came on a tough road trip looking for six points but ended up with four, and we'll take it," said Harrisburg Head Coach Bill Becher. "The Kings were fresh and ready to play, and we struggled in the first half. But we battled back and gave ourselves a chance to win."
Notes: Showers, the rookie from Northern Lebanon High School, has scored all three of his goals this season on penalty kicks. All three of them have been drawn by Tanzini...Harrisburg leads the season series with the Kings 1-0-2, with the final game at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday, August 6...The City Islanders are 2-2-2 on the road...Harrisburg's three-game road swing concludes in Pittsburgh next Friday, July 1, at 7:05 p.m.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 24, 2005
- Cincinnati Kings End Harrisburg Win Streak - Cincinnati Kings
- City Islanders Battle to Draw in Cincinnati - Penn FC
- Rough Riders prepare for double header - Long Island Rough Riders
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