Palace Baltimore look to make it three in a row

Published on June 28, 2009 under United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


June 28th 2009 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore take on Real Maryland at 7:30pm Monday night at UMBC Stadium in a match originally scheduled for June 26. This will be the third League meeting of the 2009 season for the local rivals. Riding back-to-back wins over Wilmington and Bermuda, the Baltimore side will be looking to avoid the regular season sweep by Real after falling home and away back in May. Palace's lone victory over their in-state neighbors occurred in pre-season as Baltimore took the second annual DeOrsey Maryland Cup.

Palace currently sit in fourth place in the League table, five points behind leaders Harrisburg. Real Maryland are three points below Baltimore in fifth but with two games in hand. Palace are enjoying a recent change of fortunes, defeating Wilmington at home and Bermuda away in their last two games, ending an alarming winless stretch. Real Maryland have also suffered the opposite reversal in form of late, losing their last two contests by scores of 0-3 and 0-4 against Wilmington and Harrisburg respectively.

Crystal Palace Baltimore Co-Manager Pete Medd echoed the message he's delivered in pre-match comments over the past couple of weeks: "Just trying to keep picking up points. No matter who the opponent is, we're entirely focussed on ourselves, our tactics, our individual assignments - when we do that, we're a really good team."

Palace will be without a key player due to a one-game suspension after an accumulation of yellow cards: "We have to adjust for Paul Robson's absence," remarked Medd. "He's been doing unbelievably well with his recent move up to midfield, so we have to replace his ball-winning abilities in the middle of the park to combine with Pat Healey's attacking."

There are no new injuries to report, but there is news about three Palace players who have suffered for extended periods this campaign. John Barry Nusum, Alex Ughiovhe and Larry Mark are all expected to undergo season-ending surgeries in the coming days and weeks.

Palace's next opponent is the City Islanders, whom they will face twice on consecutive Fridays, first in Harrisburg on June 3, then back in Baltimore on June 10. Palace take a break from League action after that, welcoming their sister club from London - Crystal Palace UK - for an exhibition match at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland on Monday June 13.

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United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 28, 2009


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