Palace End Road Trip with Win in Rochester

May 19, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


May 19th 2010 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore concluded their five-game road swing tonight with a 1-0 victory over the third-placed Rhinos in Rochester, New York. Palace striker Randi Patterson came off the bench to score his first of the season while Evan Bush and the Baltimore back line blanked the opposition for the third time in four games. The win moves the Maryland club out of the basement of the USSF D-2 Pro League standings, leaping five places into seventh overall with a 2-4-1 record worth seven points.

"I'm just so proud of the players for putting in that performance tonight," said Palace Baltimore head coach Jim Cherneski after the win. "To get seven points in the last four games on the road against very tough competition - their commitment tonight was just phenomenal."

With five changes from the starting lineup that took the field in Austin three days earlier, Palace adopted on a more attack-minded look, but it was Rochester who had the first effort on goal. A nice one-two between Felix Motagalvan and Agustin Nunez ended with Nunez firing straight at Evan Bush in the Palace net. As the first half progressed the Rhinos looked the more likely to open the scoring with the tricky Max Ferdinand combining well with Motagalvan and Nunez. At the other end Dan Lader twice had half chances but both efforts were well off target.

With no goals at the half, Cherneski replaced Jordan Seabrook with Randi Patterson to start the second period and it almost paid instant dividends. On 46 minutes, Palace right back Korey Veeder, getting his first ever start as a professional, made a great overlapping run up the right touchline. The 18-year old sent a perfect cross into the box picking out Patterson ten yards from goal, but the Palace striker's first touch of the game saw him head straight at Rhinos 'keeper Neal Kitson. Baltimore were on the front foot and three minutes later Mathew Mbuta stroked a low shot goalwards but Kitson gathered comfortably again.

On 54 minutes Yaikel Perez slid a clever pass to Randi Patterson running into the box. Patterson was closed down by two Rhinos defenders but outmuscled them to fire a shot on goal. The ball took a slight deflection off a defender's foot, Kitson got down sharply to his right to get a hand on the ball, but couldn't stop it from rolling over the line and the visitors had taken the lead.

Rochester's Anthony Hamilton came on as a substitute just after his side fell behind and, with almost his first touch, had a golden opportunity to level the match but his snap shot from close range landed in the arms of Evan Bush.

Palace kept the home side at bay through the middle portion of the second period, as Rhinos coach Bob Lilley tried to liven his side up with three substitutions in five minutes but to no avail.

Despite a pair of close range chances for Hamilton on 82 minutes and substitute Isaac Kissi in the second minute of stoppage time, the Palace Baltimore back line stood firm as the clock ran down, earning another shut out to seal the win.

"Randi got the goal that he's deserved to have for a long time now," Cherneski remarked. Former New York Red Bull Patterson had not scored through the first five games of the season after more than a dozen shots on goal. "It's such a relief for him - he's been really hard on himself and I think that's now broken the ice. I'm so pleased for him because he's just a class player, a class guy."

As for the first professional start of former US National Team U17 player Korey Veeder, Cherneski commented: "It was just a phenomenal performance. He showed real class tonight. His decision making was impeccable. I don't think he turned the ball over the whole 90 minutes. He even put in the best cross of the game. For a boy of just 18 years of age, it was a special performance." Veeder made his professional debut May 1st, entering the match as a 75th minute substitute in the loss at AC St. Louis.

Cherneski concluded: "We've played a lot of games in a very short period of time - four in eleven days - and travelled thousands and thousands of miles. So for the boys to come out and do what they did tonight, I can't say it enough - I'm just really proud of them."

Palace return to Baltimore at last, facing the Portland Timbers this Saturday, May 22nd at UMBC Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:00pm and tickets are still available either online at www.palacebaltimore.com or by calling 410.933.TEAM(8326).



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from May 19, 2010


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