City Islanders Fall in Overtime
July 17, 2004 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
Uniondale, NY â Giovanni Savarese scored nine minutes into overtime to hand his Long Island Rough Riders a 3-2 win over the Harrisburg City Islanders at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday night, setting the stage for an electrifying stretch drive in the Pro Soccer League's Atlantic Division. With the loss, Harrisburg (6-5-3, 21 points) holds just a two-point lead over Long Island (6-8-1, 19 points) in the division; the Islanders have six games to play.
After surrendering a goal to Long Island defender Wilmer Cabrera inside the first 10 minutes of the game, Harrisburg fought back to build a 2-1 lead early in the second half. Matt Tanzini's fourth goal of the season in the 36th minute created a halftime deadlock, and Aleksey Korol, in his first Islanders appearance, put Harrisburg ahead just 10 minutes into the second stanza. Both goals were unassisted.
But Savarese, the former Major League Soccer star, ensured that his club would not drop this important match. The veteran tied the game at 2-2 in the 78th minute, and sealed the win in the first overtime, converting his spot kick after Harrisburg's John Lapore was called for a foul inside the penalty area.
Michael Behonick (1-1-0) took the loss for the Islanders with six saves in goal, while Daniel Sirota (eight stops, 5-3-0) got the win.
Notes: Despite the loss, Harrisburg did capture the season series with the Rough Riders based on head-to-head goals (5-3)...The Islanders play two home games this coming weekend, entertaining the Westchester Flames on Friday, July 23, (7:35 p.m.) and the Western Mass Pioneers on Sunday, July 25 (2:05 p.m.). The latter game was rescheduled from Saturday, June 5.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 17, 2004
- Rough Riders overcome Islanders 3-2 in OT - Long Island Rough Riders
- Eagles battle Flames to a soggy 3-2 Charolette win - Charlotte Eagles
- Lady Eagles hold on for 5-4 win - Charlotte Eagles
- City Islanders Fall in Overtime - Penn FC
- Flames take win in first leg of weekend trip - Westchester Flames
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