Long Island Rough Riders Fall to Northern Virginia 2-3

Published on May 29, 2004 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Long Island Rough Riders News Release


( Uniondale , N.Y. – May 29, 2004) The Long Island Rough Riders ( 1-4-1, 4 pts.) lost a heartbreaking game, 2-3, against the visiting Northern Virginia Royals ( 1-7-0, 3 pts.). Derrick Etienne would score two goals for the Rough Riders, but Matt Osborne's late tally sealed the win for the Royals, giving them their first win of the 2004 season.

The Northern Virginia Royals took an early lead, scoring a goal in the third minute of play. Said Nabih played a ball behind the Rough Riders defense to a streaking Matt Osborne, who headed the ball past goalkeeper Dan Sirota, who made his first appearance of the season.

The Royals would tally again in the tenth minute to take a two goal lead. This time Osborne created the goal, playing a nice through ball to Matt O'Connor. O'Connor took the pass from Osborne and dribbled around Sirota to score into an empty net.

The Rough Riders would answer with a goal in the 21st minute, as forward Derrick Etienne headed home a nice cross from Ricardo Blanchard. It was Etienne's third goal on the season and Blanchard's first point on the year.

Rough Rider forward Moussa Sy almost tied the game in the 39th minute, but his header hit the post, allowing the Royals to clear the ball out of danger.

The game became very physical in the second half, as five cards were issued for rough play. On the night, 28 fouls were called, 17 on Northern Virginia and 11 on Long Island .

Etienne would follow his first half goal with a tally in the 58th minute, his second goal on the night, and fourth of the season, tying the game at two apiece. Etienne worked his way past a few Royal defenders and unleashed a right footed shot that deflected off a Royal defender and past a diving goalkeeper Doug Warren, who was on loan from D.C. United.

The momentum of the game would swing in favor of the Rough Riders in the 59 th minute, when Royal defender Andy Kish was ejected. Kish received a yellow card, for a hard foul, then a straight red card for dissent.

From there, the Rough Riders controlled the flow of the game, but weren't able to beat Royal goalkeeper Doug Warren, who made eight saves on the night.

Down a man, the Royals would score the game-winning goal off a counter-attack in the 76th minute. O'Connor played a cross to Osborne who blasted a right footed shot from in close past Sirota for his second goal of the night.

After the goal, the Rough Riders would push forward looking for the equalizer. During stoppage time the Rough Riders played a cross into the box and after a scramble the ball ricocheted slowly toward the goal-line but was cleared by a Royal defender. A minute later, Etienne blasted a shot that was easily saved by Warren. With time running out, the Rough Riders looked to have tied the game, but a goal by Michele Giacobbone was called back for off-sides.

"We lacked desire and passion as a team, allowing a goal being a man up is inexcusable. On the positive end, I believe that Derrick Etienne and Ricky Blanchard played a great game for us," stated Coach Paul Caffrey after the match.

The next Long Island Rough Riders match will be at home, Friday June 11th, against the Wilmington Hammerheads with kickoff set for 7:30pm. All home games are played at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale, N.Y. Contact the Long Island Rough Riders office at 516-671-1585 for team and ticket information.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from May 29, 2004


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