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USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks Defeat Impact 2-0 Finish season in 2nd place

September 18, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


Cary, N.C - The Carolina RailHawks (16-7-7) finished the regular season off in style by defeating the Montreal Impact (12-11-7) 2-0 at WakeMed Soccer Park Friday Night. Daniel Paladini converted a penalty kick in the 59th minute while Brian Plotkin added an insurance goal in the 90th. The RailHawks finish the season in second place with their best record in franchise history and will travel to Vancouver on Thursday, September 24th for the first leg of the two-game quarterfinals . The Railhawks will host the Whitecaps on Sunday, September 27 at 5 p.m.

"I was telling the team earlier that we started all of this together," said RailHawks coach Martin Rennie. "We hoped we were going to have a good season and we had an incredible one. We had 16 wins eleven of which at home and that is a great record. Our home form is really good and we're really happy with that."

The match started very slow with both teams sizing each other up. In the 11th minute Matthew Watson went down on a bad tackle and twisted his ankle. After being sidelined for a few minutes he was forced to leave the pitch on crutches and is out for the season with a broken fibula. In the 36th minute Andriy Budnyy heads the ball towards Montreal's goal but is saved by Impact keeper Matt Jordan. Montreal responded immediately with a rocket from Impact forward Roberto Brown that was saved by RailHawks keeper Caleb Patterson.

"we didn't come out as sharp in the first half," said RailHawks midfielder Brian Plotkin. "Martin [Rennie] gave a good speech at halftime and we found our rhythm and pushed the game a bit."

The second half saw the RailHawks attack more and in the 56th minute Cunliffe gave a go ahead ball to Budnyy that was deflected for a corner kick. Just a minute later Impact defender Stefano Pesoli tackled Andriy Budnyy from behind in the box and was ejected from the game. The RailHawks were also awarded a penalty kick that was easily converted by Daniel Paladini for the 1-0 lead. Montreal tried to get the ever elusive equalizer but Caleb Patterson, who recorded five saves, was almost perfect between the posts. In the 90th minute the Railhawks added an insurance goal when Brian Plotkin received a great ball from Matthew Delicâte in the 90th minute and put it behind Matt Jordan fixing the score at 2-0.

"I drove the ball forward and got their left back to commit," Plotkin continued talking about his goal. "I slotted Delicâte who got around his guy and gave the ball back to me so kudos to him on that play too."

Next the RailHawks go on the road to Vancouver for the first leg of the quarterfinals. They will host the Whitecaps for the second leg of the home-and-away series on Sunday, September 27 at 5 p.m.

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