Islanders Defeat Brooklyn in OT to Claim US Open Cup Win
Published on June 15, 2010 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, PA, June 15, 2010)---Tension ran high on Skyline Sports Complex as late heroics kept the Islanders in the hunt for the US Open Cup championship.
The Harrisburg City Islanders relied on a dramatic come-from-behind plan to defeat the Brooklyn Italians 4-2. With the win they claim the first-round 2010 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup match and continue their championship hopes. But it didn't come easy.
A determined Brooklyn Italians squad didn't want to be taken lightly. And they showed it from the start. The first half began the Islanders' troubles as Brooklyn midfielder Marco Hamilton lobbed a miraculous shot from midfield that arched over the defense, catching Harrisburg goalkeeper Tomer Chencinski out of position, and bent under the crossbar to put the Italians up 1-0.
Moments later in the 19th minute Harrisburg scored an equalizer after Nate Jafta found the back of the net on a breakaway run, evening the score to 1-1 for the rest of the first half.
The second half had Harrisburg's J.T. Noone firing shots just above the crossbar, but he couldn't find the target. Harrisburg peppered Brooklyn with 24 total shots overall yet still lacked the ability to capitalize. Then, Paul Nittoli broke free from Islanders opposition and slipped a shot past Chencinski into the right inside-net giving Brooklyn a 2-1 lead.
Islanders seemed poised to dominate, consistently putting pressure inside the Italians' box, but Harrisburg never could get a result.
Until Geoff Bloes decided it was time to change things. With an assist from J.T. Noone, Bloes rocketed a shot past Italians' goalkeeper Rosario Candela to help Harrisburg even the score 2-2, pushing the game into the first of two 15-minute overtimes.
And it didn't stop there.
Bloes and Noone reversed roles as Bloes crossed a short-pass to Noone in the 92nd minute and watched his teammate curve a spectacular shot into the corner net, putting the Islanders up 3-2 and drastically shifting momentum towards Harrisburg favor. There was no turning back.
In the 119th minute, late in the second overtime, Islanders' midfielder Dominic Oppong put the finishing touch on a dramatic victory for Harrisburg after he shot the ball into the top of the net giving the Islanders a 4-2 result.
Both teams played hard, and frustrations ran high. Fouls totaled to 26 with Brooklyn committing 11 and the Islanders tallying 15. Hotchkin, Calvano, and Pelletier received a yellow card each for Harrisburg and Brooklyn's Mattoli, Hunter, and Candella each received a yellow card as well. The fierce competitive play was only enhanced by overtime, with both teams continually testing opposition.
But the Islanders held on, taking-down an aggressive Brooklyn squad and securing a second-round match in the US Open Cup next week.
The next game at Skyline Sports Complex for the City Islanders is Saturday, June 19, against USL-Second Division foe the Richmond Kickers (4-3-3, 15 points). Then, Tuesday, June 22, Harrisburg will host the winner of the Long Island Rough Riders and New York Pancyprian Freedoms match in the second-round of the US Open Cup. The Islanders are also proud to announce an exhibition match against MLS affiliate the Philadelphia Union on Tuesday, July 27.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 15, 2010
- Kickers Advance to U.S. Open Cup Second Round - Richmond Kickers
- Islanders Defeat Brooklyn in OT to Claim US Open Cup Win - Penn FC
- Battery Overpowers CASL to Move Into Second Round of U.S. Open Cup - Charleston Battery
- Isles Host Philadelphia Union July 27 - Penn FC
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