Islanders Find First Win against Pittsburgh in Classic Keystone Derby Fashion
July 26, 2015 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
Harrisburg, PA (July 26, 2015) - The Harrisburg City Islanders got their first win in the Keystone Derby this season after finding themselves a man down losing 3-1 with less than 30 minutes to play.
Craig Foster and Jason Plumhoff each scored two goals in the comeback including Plumhoff's game-winning blast that hit off the inside of the post to give the Islanders the 4-3 win.
It was the Islanders first win against the Riverhounds this season. They had lost the previous two in Pittsburgh in the same exciting fashion.
With the win Harrisburg moves into a tie with the Riverhounds at 25 points on the season. The next meeting will be the final game of the season and could decide which team will make the USL playoffs.
Pittsburgh kept the pressure on through the whole first half. It only took them seven minutes to find the quality to open the scoring. Kevin Kerr drove into the box, slid a pass to Amara Soumah who snuck behind the defense for an easy tap-in goal.
The next goal came off a penalty kick as a result of a Shane Johnson handball in the box. Rob Vincent, Pittsburgh's leading scorer, stepped up to the spot to take the shot and delivered with his 13th goal of the year.
Play continued to favor Pittsburgh and it looked like they would take their shutout into the locker room but the Islanders would get help from their leading scorer.
Plumhoff fired a shot from outside the box that caught the Riverhounds goalkeeper off guard to give the Islanders their first goal at home in two games.
Harrisburg came out in the second half with confidence after the Plumhoff goal and late first half offense success. They had a few chances to knot up the score but Calle Brown, Pittsburgh's goalie, was up to the task.
At the 65th minute Islander midfielder Jose Barril, was ejected from the match after receiving two yellow cards. However, despite playing a man down the Islanders controlled the last 25 minutes of the match and relentlessly kept the pressure on the Pittsburgh backline with 3 unanswered goals in the second half.
After falling behind again by two goals the Islanders were able to get one back from one of the newest members, Craig Foster. Brett Jankouskas flicked the ball to Foster who headed it home to give the Islanders some life.
Foster wasn't finished scoring. His speed combined with his quick footwork broke him free from the Riverhounds back line. Foster found himself in on goal alone to convert for the tying goal.
The winning goal was a showcase of Benbow's speed when he tracked an arrant ball down the field to make a play for Plumhoff. Plumhoff's scored his team leading fifth goal of the season to complete the comeback.
Harrisburg will be back on the Island for a match-up against the Richmond Kickers on Saturday, August 8 at 7 p.m.
For tickets and information on the Islanders please visit www.cityislanders.com or call 717-441-GOAL (4625).
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 26, 2015
- Islanders Find First Win against Pittsburgh in Classic Keystone Derby Fashion - Penn FC
- Hounds Squander Late Lead to Lose in Harrisburg - Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
- Battery Lose 1-0 at Rochester in Second Loss of the Weekend - Charleston Battery
- Rhinos Defeat Charleston 1-0; Extend Record Unbeaten Streak to 19 Matches - Rochester Rhinos
- Real Monarchs Fall to OC Blues in Final Match of July - Real Monarchs
- Arizona United SC Falls in Grueling 1-0 Loss to Austin - Phoenix Rising FC
- Aztex Ride Tyrpak's Goal, Defense to 1-0 Win - Austin Aztex
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