Railhawks Open Season With 2-1 Victory
April 11, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release
CARY, N.C. -The Carolina RailHawks opened the 2009 USL First Division season with a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Thunder on Saturday before 2,927 at WakeMed Soccer Park.
Saturday's win marks the first time in the team's three-year history that it has opened the season with a victory. This is also Carolina's second straight win over the Thunder after going 0-1-3 against them in their first four meetings.
Gavin Glinton scored the game-winning goal in the 56th minute, four minutes after he entered the match. The play started with Mark Schulte's throw-in into the middle of the penalty area. The ball bounced out of a scrum and rolled to Daniel Paladini. Paladini hammered a shot from 30 yards, and it ricocheted off a Minnesota defender, hit the crossbar and went straight up in the air. As the ball came back to earth, Glinton beat Minnesota goalkeeper Nic Platter to the ball and headed it in at the near post.
The RailHawks (1-0-0) also scored their first goal on a Schulte throw-in. In the 12th minute, Schulte threw the ball into the box. The ball came out of the area and back to Schulte, and he lashed a half-volley that weaved its way through the crowded box and whistled past the outstretched Platter.
The RailHawks enjoyed a man advantage during the match's final 68 minutes. Minnesota defender Brian Kallman was sent off in the 22nd minute for a malicious tackle on Carolina's John Gilkerson.
Though down a man, the Thunder (0-1-0) responded better to Kallman's ejection than the RailHawks. Five minutes after Kallman exited, Minnesota struck for the equalizer. Melvin Tarley took a pass from Rod Dyachenko at the top of the penalty area, and Tarley weaved through the Carolina defense and smashed a shot past Eric Reed at the near post.
The RailHawks return to action on Tuesday, when they will face the USL Second Division's Wilmington Hammerheads in an intra-divisional friendly in Wilmington. Carolina will return to USL-1 play on April 18 when they will face the Rochester Rhinos at WakeMed Soccer Park. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
USL First Division Stories from April 11, 2009
- Whitecaps end up with goalless draw - Vancouver Whitecaps
- Battery earns point in opener - Charleston Battery
- Thunder Drops Season Opener 2-1 At Carolina Railhawks - Minnesota Thunder
- Miami FC signs 2 ex Cuban Nationals to roster - Fort Lauderdale Strikers
- RailHawks Win Home Opener 1-0 Over Minnesota - North Carolina FC
- Railhawks Open Season With 2-1 Victory - North Carolina FC
- Impact Take 2-1 Win over UQAM - Montreal Impact
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