Palace Baltimore Beat Minnesota 1-0 on the Road

Published on July 4, 2010 under U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Blaine, Minn. - In a grueling matchup littered with fouls and yellow cards, Palace Baltimore took advantage of a well-finished lightning strike to beat the Minnesota Stars, 1-0. The 86th minute strike from substitute, Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, levels the series between the two teams and improves Baltimore's record to 4-7-3.

Minnesota looked the hungrier of the two teams in the first twenty minutes, but in a physical first half, neither team was able to crack the other's defense. The Stars threatened down the flanks but a hardy Palace Baltimore defense limited all of their attempts on goal to long range efforts.

Palace Baltimore's best chance of the half came from a great piece of counter-attacking play by Matthew Mbuta, but his pass to Santiago Fusilier was sent skywards from 18 yards out.

The first shot on goal of the half came in the last minute of regulation. Danny Wasson's shot from 25 yards out was easily gobbled up Palace netminder, Evan Bush.

The Stars started the second half much like the first. Wasson continued to look dangerous but put quality chances from 18 and 25 yards over the bar. Minnesota substitute, Brian Kallman, had a glorious opportunity to put the home team ahead but lofted his effort over the bar in the 55th minute.

Seven minutes later, Minnesota should've been a goal up, but Wasson squandered a fantastic through ball from Geison Moura and rifled his effort from close range over a wrong-footed Bush's bar.

Baltimore looked menacing on the counter, but all of their efforts fizzled in the attacking third. A 3-on-2 situation went begging in the 72nd minute, as Lucio's lazy looking pass was easily dealt with by the Minnesota defense.

It was Minnesota again that could've drawn first blood in the 74th minute, but Moura's shot from inside the 18-yard box whistled harmlessly past the left-hand post. Eight minutes later, after Neto coughed up the ball in his own half, some silky footwork and the resulting shot by Warren Ukah were denied by Palace Baltimore defender, Steven Basso's back.

Palace broke the deadlock on 86 minutes with a counter attack that seemingly came out of nowhere. Tsuyoshi Yoshitake's second goal in as many games against the Stars was arguably better than his first. After controlling a 30-yard raking pass from midfielder, Dan Lader, he stepped into the box and slotted it coolly by the 6'5" Minnesota netminder.

"Yoshi does that all the time in training" said Baltimore Head Coach, Jim Cherneski. "Nine times out of ten, he puts those in."

As time wound down, a pointblank effort from Brian Cvilikas was snuffed out by a very alert Bush and Palace held on to take all three points - much to the delight of Cherneski. "All in all, it's a win. It's three points and we'll take it."

Palace stay on the road for their next game and face the Puerto Rico Islanders on Friday, July 9 with the game kicking off at 8:05 p.m. in Bayamé"n.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 4, 2010


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