Harrisburg Pulls Ahead Late, Wins 2-1
Published on June 15, 2012 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
HARRISBURG, Pa.- The Harrisburg City Islanders needed two late goals after a vexing deflection put the visiting Rochester Rhinos ahead in the 80th minute. Substitutes Yann Ekra and Lucky Mkosana scored for the home team, which had been bogged down offensively for much of the match.
After Rochester had dominated possession for the first 45 minutes, the Islanders diverted from their favored 4-5-1 formation and sent in strikers Ekra and Mkosana after halftime. Their impact was immediate. The revitalized Harrisburg attack upped its shots to 10 - after managing only two in the first half - and created several more scoring opportunities. And when additional forward Sainey Touray entered in the 71st, the assault was on.
In the 73rd, Touray sprang free down the center of the pitch and sent a header just over goalkeeper Kristian Nicht and the crossbar. Seven minutes later, the Rhinos struck back, finding the back of Harrisburg's net off a Michael Tanke shot. From the top of the eighteen, Tanke nailed a trickling rebound into the lower right corner of Nick Noble's net. The shot took a deflection off defender Dustin Bixler and wrong-footed Noble, who froze after realizing the mishap.
The goal proved to be the extra motivation the home team needed as they pushed forward in droves to get the tying score. Midfielder Jason Pelletier, who handed the captain's armband back to the returning Bixler, set up the equalizer in the 86th, sending a long lob to Ekra. The Ivory Coast-born striker screened his defender, spun and booted the pass into the left corner of Nicht's net.
Four minutes later, it was fellow sub Mkosana's turn to electrify the 1,958 in attendance. The Dartmouth product timed his run perfectly as defender Bilal Duckett, spread out to the right, curled in a low cross right in front of Nicht. The service and the following touch were impeccable, giving the Islanders their second win of the season against second-place Rochester.
Rochester drops to 6-3-3 on the season, while Harrisburg goes to 4-2-4. The Rhinos head to Pittsburgh for a Sunday matinee against the Riverhounds, kickoff scheduled for 3 p.m. The City Islanders, meanwhile, travel south to face Orlando City next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 15, 2012
- Kickers Fall 2-1 to Wilmington - Richmond Kickers
- Paterson Scores a Brace as the Charleston Battery defeat Antigua Barracuda - Charleston Battery
- Harrisburg Pulls Ahead Late, Wins 2-1 - Penn FC
- Riverhounds Enter Three Game Home Stand - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Orlando City Looks to Celebrate Father's Day with a Win over Antigua - Orlando City SC
- Rhinos Travel to Harrisburg & Pittsburgh - Rochester Rhinos
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