Islanders handed first home loss of the season
Published on July 25, 2009 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(Harrisburg, PA, July 25, 2009) The Harrisburg City Islanders (9-5-2, 29 points) were defeated by the Wilmington Hammerheads (10-4-2, 32 points) on Saturday, July 25th. The loss, which came in front of 1,838 fans at Skyline Sports Complex, is the Islanders' first home loss of the season. With the loss, Harrisburg falls to second in the USL-2 standings.
Both teams were unable to score in the first 45 minutes of play. A particularly dangerous Wilmington opportunity came in the 20th minute when a free kick taken by the Hammerheads' Chris Murray was punched away by Islander keeper Chase Harrison (2 saves). Possession in the first half was evenly distributed between the two teams, although Harrisburg struggled to fall into an offensive rhythm.
The Islanders stuck first in the second half, when Steve Fisher received the ball on the left side of the field, beat his defender and crossed the ball to find Mo Oduor at the top of the 18 yard box. Oduor took a touch and ripped a shot that was punched away by Wilmington's keeper Chris McClellan (6 saves). Chad Severs pounced on the rebound to net his ninth goal of the season. The Islanders only goal of the night came in the 54th minute.
In the 62nd minute, Wilmington was awarded a penalty kick after Islander defender Anthony Calvano committed a foul in the box. Islander keeper Chase Harrison was also shown a yellow after the foul for delay of game. Hammerhead Kenny Bundy stepped up and buried the shot on in the left in the 63rd minute to tie the score at 1-1.
In the 72nd minute, a Wilmington cross rang off an Islanders defender and into the net for an own goal that tipped the score 2-1 in Wilmington's favor. Despite several opportunities, the Islanders were unable to score the equalizer.
In the 73rd minute Harrisburg's Tiyi Shipalane drew a foul in the box which resulted in a penalty kick for the Islanders. Severs stepped up for the shot which deflected off cross bar and back into the goal box. Shipalane was able to get to the rebound and take a shot which was tipped over the cross bar.
The Islanders continued to look for scoring opportunities and certainly had the better opportunities of the second half. In the 78th minute, Shipalane beat several Wilmington defenders before taking a shot that went just over the cross bar. In the 87th minute a shot by Islander Baker skimmed the cross bar. Just one minute later Shipalane put a free kick just wide.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 25, 2009
- Baltimore unable to find way past Charlotte - Crystal Palace Baltimore
- Islanders handed first home loss of the season - Penn FC
- Eagles take care of business in Maryland - Charlotte Eagles
- Palace's Final Home Game Saturday Is Fan Appreciation Night - Crystal Palace Baltimore
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