Kickers deliver tough blow to Islanders
July 13, 2013 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
(HARRISBURG,PA) A late, breakout goal was the difference on City Island tonight as the Richmond Kickers downed the Harrisburg City Islanders in a pivotal match up of two of the league's top teams by a final score of 1-0.
Physical play dominated most of the game and the series of events that led up to the goal were no different. It was a battle for a ball on the sideline that left the Islanders on their heels and out manned with the Kickers charging down the field with two players. Noble came out to cut off the angle but Stanley Nyazamba made a simple pass to his left and had Michael Seaton alone with an empty net.
Even though this was the only goal of the game, the Islanders were not going to give up a loss at home that easy. In one of the last plays of the match, Islander, Jimmy McLaughlin, swung the ball into the box, which met leading scorer Sainey Touray's foot and went in the net. A long look across the field and the referee had his flag raised. Sainey was offsides and the goal would not count.
The Islanders were shut out for the first time at home and the win for the Kickers puts them four points a head of the Islanders in the league. Richmond is still blemish free on the season
The first fifteen minutes of the game proved uneventful with both teams feeling each other out. The play was physical and sloppy at times and both teams could not get into a groove until a hard shot from Matt Bahner skimmed off the crossbar of the goal post.
Following the Bahner shot play opened up and the Islanders had quality chances to break through and the important first goal. Sainey had two chances to put the Islanders up one. The first came off of a delivery in the box, Sainey took the ball deep into the box but his shot rang off the out side of the goal cage.
The game was never able to get any real rhythm to get because of the amount of fouls being called on both teams. One of the most heated exchanges of the match included Islanders' defenseman Stephen Basso, who pushed a Richmond player down on the sidelines after an altercation. The push resulted in a yellow card.
The second half started with a few chances for both teams but none of great quality. One of the best chances of the half was a rising shot by Islander Tom Mellor that looked destined for the back of the net, until one of the league's top keepers got his fingers to it and tipped it over the net.
With good chances seeming to be a premium on this muggy night on the Island, a sequence of the Mellor shot and a Touray shot seemed, at the time to be the pivotal point in the match.
Along with the huge match, the Islanders also had to momentous occasions tonight at Skyline Sports Complex. They retired the No. 3 jersey worn by Dustin Bixler in his seven-year career as an Islander. The other occasion of the night was the announcing of the All-Decade team. Most of the eleven players announced, and some who earned honorable mention were on the field during halftime to be honored.
The Harrisburg City Islanders will play back at Skyline Sports Complex on July 24 at 7 p.m. when they take on the Dayton Dutch Lions. For information about the City Islanders visit www.cityislanders.com or call (717)-441-GOAL.
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United Soccer League Championship Stories from July 13, 2013
- Kickers deliver tough blow to Islanders - Penn FC
- Eagles Battle Back for Win over Wilmington - Charlotte Eagles
- All Decade Team Announced & Dustin Bixler's # 3 Jersey Retired - Penn FC
- TAMPA BAY DELIVERS ANOTHER SOLID PERFORMANCE AT HOME - VSI Tampa Bay FC
- Seaton's Lone Goal Lifts Kickers to 1-0 Win in Harrisburg - Richmond Kickers
- Charleston Battery falls to VSI Tampa Bay - Charleston Battery
- Rhinos Save Another Point at Home - Rochester Rhinos
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