City Islanders Win Friendly
Published on June 12, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Garret Pettis was determined to impress in a rare opportunity to start.
Under the lights of Hersheypark Stadium, he scored twice to help the City Islanders to a 3-2 victory over their MLS affiliate, the Philadelphia Union, in a friendly a fortnight before their U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal.
Resolute from the opening whistle, Pettis dogged the Union backline searching for chances. In the 17th, midfielder Tom Mellor created an easy one for the spry Pettis. The Brit broke free down the left side of the pitch and slid it to a flashing Pettis, who - at full extension - booted it by goalkeeper Chris Konopka.
Pettis, who is usually stuck behind productive strikers Brian Ombiji, Yann Ekra and Sainey Touray in the lineup, struck again in the 75th, which would stand as the deciding goal. Second- half sub Lucky Mkosana fired a long cross to the left side of the penalty area to an awaiting Pettis. The Lipscomb grad volleyed the feed into the left side of the Union net to put the Islanders up 3-1.
Between Pettis's two goals, Jorge Perlazza and Yann Ekra both scored, showing the 820 in attendance some impressive pace. Perlazza's rocket came in the 41st off a Michael Lahoud helper, while Ekra needed no assistance in targeting the upper right corner of Konopka's net in the 55th .
Philadelphia tacked on a late goal in the 81st after Kai Herdling pinpointed a free kick opportunity past the Islanders' wall - and goalkeeper Brian Holt - into the lower right corner of the net. But the Union would go home disappointed, despite holding a 10-6 advantage in shots and a 14-11 advantage in corners.
Philadelphia (2-7-2) returns to PPL Park on Saturday to face D.C. United at 7 p.m. The Islanders (3-2-4) finish up their long home stand Friday against the Rochester Rhinos. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 12, 2012
- City Islanders Win Friendly - Penn FC
- Hammerheads' Horwath Named Player of the Week - USL
- South Carolina United Battery's Pre-Academy and Developmental Academy Achieve Goals - Charleston Battery
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