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Crystal Palace Baltimore Tripped Up by Kickers

July 19, 2009 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


July 19th 2009 - Baltimore MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore fell 2-1 to the Richmond Kickers last night at UMBC Stadium. After a scoreless opening half, Richmond opened up a 2-0 lead in the second, while Jordan Seabrook scored a late, consolation goal for Palace. Despite the loss, Baltimore still has a chance to qualify for the post-season after the two other teams battling for the fifth and final playoff spot, Charlotte and Real Maryland, played to a 1-1 tie last night.

Palace looked composed in the opening ten minutes, maintaining possession for extended periods but without breaking through the Richmond defense. As the game reached the middle of the first half, the Kickers settled down and started to cause problems for the Baltimore back line, including a sequence of three consecutive corners around the 25 minute mark. In the 28th minute, Palace 'keeper Brian Rowland made a spectacular save to deny dangerous Richmond striker David Bulow on a breakaway.

On the half hour, Kevin Gnatiko came close for Palace with an effort from a tight angle. Shintaro Harada and Val Teixeira both created chances as the half wore on, but the match remained goalless as the teams headed for the locker rooms.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Richmond enjoyed a sustained spell of pressure which eventually paid off. Kickers substitute Joey Worthen hit a low cross from the left that Harada deflected in the air towards Richmond target man Matthew Delicate on the six. With Rowland stranded, the big striker directed a header inside the far post, but Palace left back Ryan Pierce sprinted back to cover and pulled off an acrobatic clearance on the goal line. Luke Vercollone collected the loose ball on the right and quickly earned his side a free kick just outside the penalty area. Mike Burke sent in an awkward bouncing shot that Rowland only just managed to slap away with one hand just before it crossed the line, falling back into his own net in the process. From the resulting Burke corner, there was nothing the Palace 'keeper could do about Worthen's bullet of a header and the visitors were on top.

In the 77th minute, Richmond doubled their advantage when Vercollone lofted a telling ball from just inside his own half towards Delicate moving towards the box with three Palace defenders around him. Stephen Basso tried to head the ball clear, but instead released the Richmond forward on goal and he took one touch before calmly slotting the ball home.

Worthen nearly gifted Baltimore a way back into the game two minutes later when he sent a back pass straight to an open Pat Healey just outside the penalty area. A surprised Healey rushed his shot though, skying over the bar, and a golden opportunity was lost.

Palace's heads were down and only as the final minutes of the game approached did they start to pick up the pace and look threatening. On 87 minutes, the Kickers were forced to clear Dan Lader's cross from the right for a corner, Palace's first of the half. A minute later, Jordan Seabrook gave Palace a glimmer of hope of salvaging something from the game when he latched on to a poor pass by Yomby William in midfield, forcing his way past two defenders and deftly lobbing Pascale from an acute angle with his left foot to cut the deficit in half.

Palace pushed up for the final minutes of the game in search of the equalizer. They sent several decent crosses into the box, but it was too little too late and the Kickers held on for a 2-1 victory.

The loss keeps Palace in the fifth and final playoff spot in the standings with 21 points, but they have just three games remaining while Charlotte are one point behind in sixth with five games still to play. Fourth-placed Real Maryland also have five matches remaining and are one point ahead of Baltimore.

Palace will look for a big boost in their playoff hopes when they take on sixth-placed Charlotte at UMBC Stadium at 7:00 pm next Saturday, July 25. This is Baltimore's final home game of the season and tickets are currently still available. For more information or to buy tickets, visit http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com or call 410.933.TEAM(8326).

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 19, 2009


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