City Stars Explode In 5-1 Victory Over Bermuda
Published on July 26, 2008 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Cleveland City Stars News Release
It was fan appreciation night at Krenzler Stadium and the Cleveland City Stars did not disappoint in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the visiting Bermuda Hogges. The match featured several great plays from the hometown City Stars to go along with the festival atmosphere at the sold out Krenzler Stadium.
The first action came in the 8th minute when Damon Ming played a far side corner back to Darius Cox who lofted a shot over the wall and towards the net. Cleveland keeper Eric Reed had no trouble out-jumping the Hogges while snatching down the ball and gaining control.
The City Stars quickly countered in the 10th minute as Mark Schulte started the attack with a beautifully placed ball down the right sideline to Godfrey Tenoff. The native of South Africa ran down the ball and connected with a perfect cross into the path of the charging Sallieu Bundu. Bundu stayed in stride while rocketing a header past the left hand of Timothy Figureido to put Cleveland ahead 1-0. It was an amazing play for Cleveland that brought the crowd of 1,933 at Krenzler Stadium to its feet.
The City Stars struck again in the 29th minute thanks to more offense from Schulte. The 2007 USL-2 Defensive Player of the Year started the attack up the middle of the field and placed another magnificent cross directly to the feet of Ryan Stewart on the right side of the box. Stewart was able to tap the ball past the drawn up Figureido and into the left side of the net for a 2-0 Cleveland lead.
The Hogges did not stay down for long. Following Cleveland's second goal Bermuda put together multiple scoring opportunities and were able to find the net in the 34th minute when Ming lofted the ball into traffic in front of the net. Jonathan Ball was able to find his way to the ball and flip a header past the screened out Reed to cut the Hogges deficit in half at 2-1.
The City Stars looked to counter in the 38th minute when Jason Hotchkin stormed down the middle of the field and received a nice cross from Stewart. Hotchkin responded with a hard shot that tested Figureido but the Bermuda keeper made a great save and punched the ball to the right of the net before jumping back to his feet and safely covering the ball.
In the 49th minute Bermuda's John Barry Nusum launched a powerful right footer towards the top left corner of the net as Reed sailed off his feet to the right. The ball was out of Reed's reach but sailed over the cross bar to keep Cleveland in the lead.
Cleveland controlled the ball for much of the next 15 minutes but was unable to find any real chances until the 65th minute when Stewart corralled the ball with his back to the net before spinning and firing a right footed shot towards Figureido. The shot looked to have a chance before flying over the top of the cross bar.
In the 80th minute the fans were treated to another brilliant goal as Musa Otieno soared over the defense and flicked a header across the defense to the waiting Jason Hotchkin. The recent signee from the New Jersey Ironmen of the MISL, Hotchkin finished the highlight reel goal with a header of his own to the far corner that skipped off the outstretched hand of Figureido and into the net for a 3-1 Cleveland lead.
Just four minutes later Hotchkin returned the favor to Otieno with a corner kick played perfectly to the 6'4" Kenyan in the 84th minute. Otieno showed his goal scoring prowess with a tremendous leap and powerful flick into the left corner for his first goal as a City Star and a 4-1 Cleveland lead.
Quickly striking again, Neil Hlavaty recovered a rebound off a Hotchkin shot and found Bundu near the net and the Sierra Leone native capitalized with a right footed tap-in for a 5-1 Cleveland lead.
With the victory Cleveland improves to 9-3-5 which is good for 32 points. The City Stars return home next Saturday August 2nd against the first place Charlotte Eagles.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 26, 2008
- Burke rules Monarchs in Kickers' 6-0 win - Richmond Kickers
- City Stars Explode In 5-1 Victory Over Bermuda - Cleveland City Stars
- Eagles Shutout Crystal Palace, 3-0 - Charlotte Eagles
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