City Islanders Storm Back, Capture 4-3 Win
May 5, 2007 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, PA, May 5, 2007) -The Harrisburg City Islanders (3-0-1) came from behind to surprise the Charlotte Eagles and add a tally in the win column with a 4-3 victory at a breezy Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday night. Rookie forward Brian Ombiji recorded a goal and an assist for Harrisburg, and midfielder David Schofield provided the assist on a pair of crucial second-half goals.
Charlotte drew first blood in the 4th minute by way of Adam Ruud. Teammate Jacob Coggins drove a ball from the left side across to Ruud, who finished with a volley to the opposite side of diving goalie Matt Nelson (two saves in the win).
The Islanders took no time at all to answer, as they produced a strong attack down the left side of the pitch in the 7th minute. Midfielder Brian Ombiji chipped a through ball into the eighteen finding Mo Oduor who made a clever turn with the outside of his foot and slotted the ball to the lower left corner of the net, beating Charlotte goalkeeper Daniel Benton.
Both teams tried to keep possession as the first half progressed. It wasn't until the 20th minute that the visitors threatened again; Coggins drove a shot far post which presented an awkward save for Matt Nelson, who punched it off his crossbar and out of trouble.
The Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the 36th minute when Ruud slotted home his second goal of the night on a quick restart just outside the eighteen, from midfielder Dustin Swinehart. The goal came on the heels of a foul by captain Chris Morman whose constant work rate fueled the hosts during the first half.
Play continually got rougher as the first half progressed. Oduor led the Islanders with several hard-nosed tackles, one of which resulted in a yellow card. Harrisburg Head Coach Bill Becher was ejected for arguing the booking which occurred in the 44th minute.
Tensions from the first half carried over into the second half, but scoring didn't open up again until the 68th minute when the Islanders mounted an aerial assault which saw Ombiji knock home a brilliantly bent ball from Schofield. The attack continued two minutes later when the hosts took a 3-2 lead off of another magical delivery from the foot of Schofield. This time his target was a lurking Steve Fisher, who nodded the service back across the Charlotte goal and off the post into the back of the net.
The visitors once again struck back in the 85th minute when Coggins headed home a corner off the service from the highly active Ruud. It looked as if the Islanders would end the night settling for a tie, until a whipped corner in stoppage time found an elusive Fisher on the back side who nicked it towards defender Tim Velten. Velten thundered it into the top corner past the sprawling Eagles goalie for the 4-3 win.
Notes: Harrisburg was charged with 19 fouls, Charlotte 7...In addition to Oduor's caution and Becher's ejection, Harrisburg was hit with three yellow cards. Charlotte received one...The City Islanders will be going on a two-game road-trip next weekend (New Hampshire on Friday, Western Mass on Saturday, both at 7:30 p.m.), and will be returning to action at the Skyline Sports Complex on Saturday, May 19 at 7:05 p.m. against Western Mass.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 5, 2007
- NH Phantoms vs Western Mass Rivalry Renewed with 1-1 Stalemate - New Hampshire Phantoms
- Phantoms Draw 1-1 versus Wetsern Mass Pioneers - New Hampshire Phantoms
- Cincinnati Kings Win First Game of Season - Cincinnati Kings
- City Islanders Storm Back, Capture 4-3 Win - Penn FC
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