City Islanders Handle Northern Virginia
Published on May 21, 2005 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, PA) â The Harrisburg City Islanders snapped a three-game losing streak with a win that was much more lopsided than the score would imply, downing the Northern Virginia Royals 3-0 in front of 1,124 fans at Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night.
Forward Sumed Ibrahim scored a goal and assisted on another for a Harrisburg side that outshot the Royals (0-6-0) by a stunning 33-6 margin and controlled the game from start to finish. And though the City Islanders (2-3-1, 7 points) could possibly have added a handful of goals to their final tally, the result, which greatly improved their chances of qualifying for the U.S. Open Cup, is all that matters.
After missing on a handful of quality looks through the first 20 minutesâincluding dangerous headers from Steve Fisher (who hit the post in the second minute) and Mo Oduor (who bounced his attempt over the crossbar in the ninth minute)âSumed got Harrisburg on the board, tearing through a horde of Royals of defenders on a 25-yard run before slipping a right-footed shot to the far post past losing keeper Alexander Hall (seven saves).
A pair of second-half substitutions led to the City Islanders' second goal. In the 74th minute, Matt Tanzini took a Derek Potteiger feed and blew down the left wing past the defense before being tripped inside the penalty area, earning Harrisburg a kick from the spot. Rookie forward Bernie Showers, a native of Fredericksburg and product of Northern Lebanon High School, made no mistake, slotting the penalty kick low to Hall's right for his first professional goal and a 2-0 lead.
Just three minutes later, the City Islanders wrapped up their scoring when Sumed's first-touch strike of a Henry Mensah cross rattled the crossbar and fell to Oduor, who hammered home his second goal of the year to create the 3-0 final.
Harrisburg goalkeeper Dave Kern had to make only two saves in his first start, and win, of the season.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 21, 2005
- City Islanders Handle Northern Virginia - Penn FC
- Kings Suffer First Loss, Drop Close Contest to Long Island - Cincinnati Kings
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