Mkosana's Red-Hot Form Carries Penn FC to 3 Points
Published on June 22, 2018 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Penn FC News Release
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Riding a three game unbeaten streak, two of which were wins, Penn FC traveled to Tampa Bay on Friday night looking to continue its rise up the table.
The first half left plenty to be desired with both teams exchanging a good chance.
But the second half featured a brace from forward Lucky Mkosana, his second in as many games, as Penn FC claimed a 2-1 win on the road.
In the 28th minute, a long spell of Penn FC possession was disrupted when Tampa Bay sprung a counter attack after winning the ball at midfield. Forward Georgi Hristov carried the ball down the left wing and cut into the box. His shot flew wide of the near post.
In a quick response, the Blue and White applied some pressure of their own. After a long ball was sent into the box, Isaac Osae contested the keeper as he went to punch it out. Osae's pressure forced the punch to be shallow, and fell to Dan Metzger. The midfielder hit the rebound with his first touch on the volley, forcing a save from the keeper.
However, Tampa Bay found the breakthrough 10 minutes from half.
Marcel Schäffer brought the ball down the left wing and fought off Marco Franco, firing in a low cross across the six yard box. Leon Taylor got in front of his defender and opened his hip to place the finish in the bottom right corner to open the scoring at Al Lang Stadium.
After the intermission, combination play between Opoku and Rezende on the left wing led to a low cross into the box. Mkosana was closest to it, but he was nudged off the ball by a defender. Aaron Dennis followed up at the back post, his shot blocked. The rebound fell back to a quick reacting Mkosana, who blasted the equalizer into the roof of the net in the 49th minute.
Momentum ramped up for Penn FC as Tampa Bay lost a player in the 51st minute. Taylor, the goalscorer, jumped up with Ken Tribbett for a header and was shown a straight red for connecting a swinging left elbow.
A little more than 15 minutes later, Hawkins took a short throw to Opoku, whose quick touch down the line gave him some separation from the defender. The midfielder whipped in a low cross toward the near post, which was met by the in-form Mkosana.
The forward delicately flicked the finish with the outside of his right foot and squeezed the ball past the keeper on the near post in the 67th minute for the go-ahead goal.An immediate response from the home team kept Penn FC on their toes. Hristov broke through the back line just past the halfway line. Approaching the box, the Tampa Bay forward fired a shot toward the Penn FC goal. Goalkeeper Romu Peiser rushed out to close down the angle and prevented the possible equalizer to keep the visitors in the lead.
The Blue and White held on to take all three points in Tampa Bay. Penn FC's road trip comes to an end Saturday, June 30 at Lucas Oil Stadium against Indy Eleven. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
Rush Soccer's First Team returns to FNB Field Friday, July 6th against Bethlehem Steel. Tickets to the match are available at pennfc.com/tickets.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 22, 2018
- Mkosana's Red-Hot Form Carries Penn FC to 3 Points - Penn FC
- Lights FC Aims to Stay Hot, Sweep Season Series with Swope Park Rangers - Las Vegas Lights FC
- Roughnecks Face Orange County Saturday in California - FC Tulsa
- Orange County SC to Host Free World Cup Final Watch Party on July 15th - Orange County SC
- North Carolina FC Sets Sights on Louisville City FC - North Carolina FC
- San Antonio FC Hosts Reno 1868 FC at Toyota Field - San Antonio FC
- Former U.S. U-20 Men's National Team Midfielder James Murphy Joins Lights FC - Las Vegas Lights FC
- Kickers Welcome Charlotte for Second Time this Season - Richmond Kickers
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