Palace Baltimore Stumble In St. Louis

Published on May 1, 2010 under North American Soccer League (NASL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore fell to their third straight defeat on Saturday night at the hands of previously winless AC St Louis. The only goal of the match at Anheuser-Busch Soccer Park came just 52 seconds into the contest as St. Louis midfielder Manuel Kante pounced on a loose ball near the edge of the penalty box. Despite creating more chances than their hosts, Palace failed to capitalize once again, leaving them with a third straight loss to open the 2010 USSF D-2 season.

After earning a corner almost directly from the kick-off, AC St. Louis took advantage of Chase Harrison's unsuccessful attempt to punch the ball clear. The loose ball flew towards Manuel Kante who sent a looping header past the stranded Palace 'keeper to give the home side the lead.

St. Louis came close to a second goal just a minute later after another telling cross was headed goalwards but this time Harrison was there to make the save. Mathew Mbuta had a good chance to equalize on 11 minutes after Neto picked him out unmarked in the left corner of the box. But the Cameroonian's first touch let him down and he was forced to navigate around a pair of St. Louis defenders, eventually shooting wide of the right post.

Perhaps Palace's best chance of the game came with 18 minutes on the clock. Neto threaded a perfect ball in the air to the on-rushing Gary Brooks but the Jamaican striker headed the ball over the bar from 12 yards out. With six minutes left in the first half, Randi Patterson was released on a breakaway but his goalbound effort was well blocked by Alec Dufty in the St. Louis net, even saving Patterson's follow-up effort at close range with his face.

Four minutes into the second half, Mathew Mbuta did well to beat two St. Louis defenders on the left edge of the box, but his low shot to the far post was pushed wide by Dufty.

In the final 20 minutes head coach Jim Cherneski brought on forwards Yaikel Perez and Jordan Seabrook, replacing Gary Brooks and Tsuyoshi Yoshitake. On 75 minutes, the move nearly paid quick dividends as Perez crossed from the right for Neto but the Palace captain's left-footed shot rolled just wide of the woodwork. Palace pressed forward for the remainder of the match, but weren't able to create any more clear-cut opportunities.

Palace travel to Vancouver next, taking on the Whitecaps Saturday May 8th at 4:00pm local time.

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