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Palace Win Final Pre-Season Match, Retain Maryland Cup

April 13, 2009 - United Soccer League Championship (USL)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore defeated local rivals Real Maryland 1-0 on Friday evening at UMBC Stadium in their final pre-season exhibition match. With the DeOrsey Maryland Cup at stake in this single-match contest, the victory means Palace have retained the title of Champions of Maryland. The Cup was inaugurated last year in honor of standout Maryland soccer player Matt DeOrsey who died from complications of an epileptic seizure last January at the age of just 31.

"Obviously we're extra happy on a lot of fronts with the result," remarked Pete Medd, Palace Baltimore Co-Manager and former teammate and close friend of DeOrsey's at Towson University and Middletown High School in Maryland. "Winning the Cup was important to us and we wanted to bounce back from the loss to Rochester last Friday. We created a lot of chances and didn't concede a goal, so that's all you can ask for as a manager."

"Matt's wife Kim DeOrsey, his stepson Tyler and his sister Maura were all at the match," added Medd, "which made the evening extra special. We were glad the rain held off too."

"Andrew Marshall was excellent once again, he's a true goal-scoring threat and he seems to like to knock them in on the big occasions." said Medd. "He's a top notch defender, he's organizing the back line, really coming into his own."

The game began on an even keel, with plenty of action in midfield and not much action for the goalkeepers to worry about. Then in the 20th minute, Jordan Seabrook was released down the right by a cheeky back- heel pass from striker Kevin Gnatiko. Seabrook surged into the box and was taken down from behind by the chasing Real defender. The referee pointed straight to the spot. Palace captain Val Teixeira stepped up and sent the 'keeper the wrong way, but the ball flew inches wide of the left post.

The penalty miss seemed to open the game up. Palace were now generating more chances as Gnatiko was using his pace to get in behind the Maryland defense more frequently and right wing Seabrook looked to run at defenders every time he had possession.

On 31 minutes, Real Maryland appeared to have equalized after a nice run down the left wing, but after the ball was tapped in from a couple of yards out, the scorer was adjudged to have been in an offside position and the score remained 0-0. Five minutes later, another storming run from Val Teixeira up the left wing took him deep into the penalty box. From the byline, his deft chip found Gnatiko at the far post but the 'keeper scrambled back just in time to block the diminutive Palace striker's header. Seabrook stole in to try and follow up but thundered the loose ball over from an acute angle.

The second half continued in the same vein with center backs Andrew Marshall and Stephen Basso, flanked by full backs Zack Flores and Mateus dos Anjos, effectively snuffing out Real's offensive efforts. Palace were still creating opportunities and on 76 minutes the inevitable breakthrough came. Shintaro Harada's corner from the right was sent deep to Teixeira just inside the box. The Portuguese winger's header was directed perfectly to Basso at the near post who in turn headed on to Marshall lurking four yards out for the easy finish.

Despite late pressure from Real, the Palace rearguard held firm to win their final pre-season fixture and retain the DeOrsey Maryland Cup. Palace open their 2009 regular season campaign at UMBC Stadium this Friday, April 17 at 7:30pm when they welcome the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Tickets are still available. For more information, please visit http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com or call 410.933.TEAM(8326).

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