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Palace Pumelled in Richmond

August 10, 2008 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace FC USA closed out their regular season schedule last night with a 5-0 defeat at second-placed Richmond, giving the Baltimore side a fourth place finish in the USL2 standings. The loss was Palace's heaviest of the season and came on the heels of a surprise 3-1 turnaround at home to ninth-placed Bermuda. Palace will face fifth-placed Harrisburg at UMBC Stadium in the first round of the USL2 playoffs this Wednesday night at 7:30pm while Richmond will enjoy a 1st round bye thanks to their second place finish.

As Co-Manager Pete Medd had stated would be the case, it was a different looking Palace lineup that took the field at the University of Richmond stadium - Zak Thompson made his professional debut in goal, Medd's fellow Co-Manager Jim Cherneski filled the right back slot, Abe Kante returned to center back, Cecil Lewis and David Feazell started in midfield with Sergio Flores and Kevin King up top.

Both teams pushed forward from the get go, with Richmond testing new Palace 'keeper Thompson in the fourth minute. Two minutes later, Cherneski tried to shield Richmond's Adrian Bumbut from a through ball that was heading for the end line. In the struggle for possession, Cherneski was whistled for holding on to the Kickers' Romanian midfielder. Michael Burke took the ensuing free kick quickly, picking out David Bulow at the near post who nodded home for his tenth goal of the season.

Palace had several chances to get back into the game over the next several minutes, but Kevin King's effort sailed wide and Sergio Flores thundered a shot over from 35 yards. The Kickers however were showing more pace and creativity, increasing the pressure on the Palace back line as the half wore on. Thompson pulled off a couple of sharp saves, but also misjudged one cross and was fortunate the ball didn't fall to a Richmond player.

Another David Bulow goal doubled Richmond's lead in the 28th minute with a cheeky back-heel finish after a goalmouth scramble. While Richmond continued to look the more dangerous side for the rest of the first half, with Bulow forcing Thompson into another top-notch save, Palace had their chances on the counter-attack, but the finishing touch just wasn't there.

Alex Ughiovhe, Matthew Mbuta and Shintaro Harada came on as substitutes to start the second half in an effort to break Richmond's grip on the game. The change nearly bore fruit early in the second period when Mbuta controlled a long throw with his chest and made a decent effort at a bicycle kick, but the ball sailed high. Richmond weren't sitting back though, and the Palace 'keeper had to make yet another spectacular finger-tip save off a tremendous Bulow effort from the edge of the box.

The result was all but decided on 58 minutes when Bulow played provider this time, releasing Mike Burke who, with just the goalie to beat, calmly slotted home from 12 yards.

Palace kept looking for their elusive opening goal and with 12 minutes left, Shintaro Harada picked out Matthew Mbuta making a nice move towards the box. Seeing Mark Murphy storming out of his net to try and intercept, Mbuta chipped the ball over the Richmond 'keeper, but the effort bounced past the right post by a matter of inches.

With five minutes of normal time remaining, Sergio Flores almost pulled one back for Palace but his powerful header from an Andrew Marshall cross flew straight into the arms of the Kickers' goalie. In the 90th minute, Richmond substitute Ralph Pace earned and converted a penalty to make it 4-0. Almost directly from the kick-off, Ben Hunter slid a ball through the deflated Palace defense for Bumbut to finish, completing Richmond's prolific night.

Fans can buy tickets for Wednesday night's playoff match online at www.crystalpalaceusa.com or by phone at 410.933.TEAM (8326).

Crystal Palace FC USA - a direct extension of Crystal Palace Football Club, a 103-year old, $100 million club based in London, England - is proud to bring big-league, professional, outdoor soccer back to Baltimore, providing area residents with a world-class, family entertainment experience. For more information please visit www.CrystalPalaceUSA.com

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