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Palace Held to Scoreless Tie by Rhinos at Home

July 14, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Crystal Palace Baltimore heralded their return to home turf with a 0-0 draw against the Rochester Rhinos at the Championship Stadium in the Maryland SportsPlex. The scoreless result didn't do justice to one of Palace's best performances of the year. It was largely the heroics of Rhinos 'keeper, Neal Kitson, that saw the Rochester team extend their unbeaten streak to eight games.

Palace Baltimore looked the hungrier of the two teams for much of the game. Their darting and incisive play forced Rochester into tackles that resulted in five yellow cards for the Rhinos. Palace's stingy defense also limited the Rochester team to two shots in ninety minutes, neither of which dirtied the gloves Palace net minder, Evan Bush.

Randi Patterson had a glorious chance to put the home team ahead in the 8th minute. A nifty through ball from the captain, Neto, put him into the 18 yard box but his low shot was well saved by Kitson.

A dipping Tsuyoshi Yoshitake free kick forced Kitson into action again in the 10th minute. Kitson got a hand to a venomous effort from twenty yards out and pushed it onto the crossbar to deny the Japanese winger his third goal in four games.

Patterson continued to give the Rhino defense fits and it was his good piece of hustle in the 17th minute that almost gave Palace the lead. The sturdy Palace striker shrugged off his defender after controlling an ambitious long ball and forced Kitson into another save from his deflected shot.

Rochester's best chance of the first half came in the 20th minute. Kissi snuck in behind the Palace defense, but after failing to pull the trigger, Shaun Pejic squelched the chance with great cover defense.

Palace, who came out five minutes before the Rhinos to start the second half, showed the same urgency with which they started the game. Late challenges from Darren Spicer and Tyler Rosenlund - earning them yellow cards in the 46th and 48th minute respectively - was evidence that Palace's eagerness to be two steps ahead of their opponents out of the tunnel translated onto the field, too.

The double substitution of Ryan Heins and Jamie Franks for Max Ferdinand and Rich Costanzo in the 56th minute by Rhinos Head Coach, Bob Lilly, injected a bit of urgency into the Rhinos' attack, but it still failed to make any telling impact on a very disciplined Palace back four.

The introduction of winger Matthew Mbuta by Palace Baltimore Head Coach, Jim Cherneski, on the hour mark almost paid immediate dividends. Patterson, buzzing as he had for most of the game, saw his cross from a tight angle palmed away by Kitson. The ball bounced straight to Mbuta whose pointblank blast was saved by the Rhinos' net minder.

An otherwise disciplined outing by Palace was marred in the in the 83rd minute, when Randi Patterson was presented with a straight red card by referee Robert Velbis. After what looked like a 50/50 challenge on Troy Roberts, Palace's leading scorer was given his marching orders. Baltimore might rue the loss their leading scorer for their upcoming games as goals are at a premium.

After four minutes of stoppage time the ref blew the final whistle and the two teams split the points. Palace were unlucky not to end the Rhinos unbeaten streak at seven with a great display of soccer. Four big saves by Neal Kitson proved the difference in the contest and helped Rochester maintain their hunt for first place in the league.

"In my opinion, and this might sound a little conceited, but if I'm watching from a spectator standpoint that's really good looking football and maybe the most attractive I think I've seen in the league so far," said Cherneski. "Rochester are a very well-coached team and I think they might probably have a real good shot at winning the league this season. If we can continue performances like that for the rest of the season, we can get ourselves solidly in the playoffs."

Palace head to Montreal this Sunday, July 18 to face the Impact in the first meeting between the two franchises. Kick off for the match at the Saputo Stadium is at 2 p.m. Palace fans are invited to log onto the Palace website (live.palacebaltimore.com) a few minutes before kickoff and watch the game live.

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U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from July 14, 2010


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