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USL-1 North Carolina FC

Cunliffe equalizer earns RailHawks 1-1 draw at Montreal

August 30, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


MONTREAL - Carolina midfielder John Cunliffe's 63rd-minute equalizer ensured a 1-1 tie for the RailHawks against the Impact on Sunday afternoon before a near-sellout crowd of 12,680 at Saputo Stadium.

But two no-calls might have been the difference between a win and a tie.

No penalty was awarded after forward Sallieu Bundu was taken down in the penalty area just before halftime, and then the RailHawks had what looked to be the game-winning goal taken out of the net in the 67th minute. Kupono Low challenged Montreal goalkeeper Matt Jordan for a 50-50 ball just outside the right post. Low beat Jordan to the ball, headed it back toward the center of the box and Bundu headed it into the net. However, Low was called for a foul on his challenge, and the goal did not count.

"We controlled the game and played the way we wanted," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "We're disappointed we didn't win. Those two decisions make a big, big difference."

The draw extends the RailHawks' current unbeaten run to nine games (5-0-4) and leaves them in second place in the USL First Division table, three clear of Charleston (45) and three behind Portland (52).

After a quiet half hour to start the match, Montreal (9-10-6) took control in the 33rd minute. Defender Adam Braz served a ball from the right flank into the penalty area, and midfielder Tony Donatelli headed it out of the reach of Carolina goalkeeper Caleb Patterson. It was the first goal Patterson had allowed in five starts, a span of 392 minutes, and it was the first time the RailHawks found themselves trailing in three games.

Montreal forward Peter Byers had two solid chances late in the first half to add to the Impact lead, but Patterson denied both.

Coming out of the changing room, the RailHawks (14-5-7) dominated the opening 20 minutes of the second half.

While they enjoyed the majority of possession and got deeper into Montreal territory, they were unable to apply any pressure on the Impact goal until Cunliffe's breakthrough. Cunliffe took a ball 35 yards from goal, carved apart the Impact defense and tucked the ball into the goal as Jordan came charging out. It's Cunliffe's third goal of the season and second in as many games.

"What I said at halftime was to keep doing the same things," Rennie said. "Apart from that one spell when they scored and got some confidence, I thought we were in control. We just kept at it, but with more urgency. We scored, but I feel like a draw was points we dropped today."

Montreal nearly went ahead in the 71st minute when Eduardo Sebrango snuck behind the Carolina defense, but Patterson (six saves) charged off his line and saved Sebrango's try.

The RailHawks had one final chance in the 90th minute. Andriy Budnyy got his head on a Cunliffe corner kick, but Budnyy's header went directly to Jordan.

The RailHawks ended a three-match losing streak to the Impact with Sunday's tie. However, they are still looking for their first win in the series. Carolina, 0-5-2 all-time against the Impact, will go for that win when the teams meet again at Saputo Stadium on Wednesday.

"That's the first time we've played [this season], so we know more about them," Rennie said. "We'll work on that over the next few days. It also lets our guys see if we play our best, we've got a chance to win. Going forward, that's the kind of attitude to have."

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USL First Division Stories from August 30, 2009


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