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Palace Seek to Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

August 6, 2009 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


altimore Needs Two Points More Than Real Maryland Over Final Two Matches To Snag Final Playoff Spot

August 6th 2009 - Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore make the day-trip to Harrisburg on Friday looking for a win that would keep their playoff hopes intact. Palace have one more game after that, at Pittsburgh on August 15th. They need to win both these contests to give themselves the best chance of reaching post-season play. Live, play-by-play, audio commentary from the Skyline Sports Complex is scheduled to begin shortly before the 7:05pm kickoff at the following internet address, : http://www.ustream.tv/channel/crystal-palace-baltimore-at-harrisburg-7-05pm-aug-7-2009

"Obviously it's a must-win, and we're geared up for it," stated Palace Baltimore Sporting Director and Co-Manager, Jim Cherneski. "It's been a great week of training, the guys have been very sharp and I expect we'll have our usual good performance and hopefully we'll put some goals in the back of the net."

Palace sit in sixth spot in the standings, just one point behind local rivals Real Maryland who currently occupy the fifth and final playoff berth. Like Palace, Maryland have just two games remaining, the first at home to last-placed Bermuda this Saturday, then four days later on the road at league-leading Wilmington. Palace need to earn at least two points more than Real over those final two matches in order to overtake them and grab the final post-season spot. Finishing equal on points isn't an option for Palace as Real Maryland would win the tie- breaker based on the first criteria -- head-to-head record -- having beaten Palace in all three encounters this season.

Palace and Harrisburg have met twice already this season. Palace won the last encounter on a pair of Dan Lader goals and a clean sheet from Brian Rowland at UMBC four weeks ago. A week earlier, Baltimore fell at Harrisburg on two very late goals from ex-Palace striker Brandon Swartzendruber. Palace's most recent league fixture was a frustrating goalless draw at home to Charlotte two weeks ago in a game that lasted more than four hours due to two lightning-related suspensions of play. Harrisburg are also coming off a 0-0 affair, against Real Maryland last weekend.

There are no injury concerns for the Baltimore coaches for this game. Machel Millwood has been declared fit after recovering from the high ankle sprain which caused him to sit out the last two matches.

About Crystal Palace Baltimore One of only 30 professional outdoor soccer teams in the United States, Crystal Palace Baltimore competes in the United Soccer Leagues Second Division and the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. The club also runs a Professional Development Academy for young players at age levels U9 through U17. Crystal Palace Baltimore is the sister organization of 104-year old Crystal Palace Football Club in the United Kingdom. The London-based club was a founding member of the English Premier League and currently competes in the Coca Cola Football League Championship. More information can be found at http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com

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