USL-1 North Carolina FC

RailHawks swipe 1-0 win over Austin for third straight away win

May 24, 2009 - USL First Division (USL-1)
North Carolina FC News Release


AUSTIN, Texas - The Carolina RailHawks picked up their third straight win on the road Sunday night with a 1-0 win over the Austin Aztex at Nelson Field, a result that moves Carolina back into sole possession of first place in the USL First Division.

Since losing 2-1 to Charleston at WakeMed Soccer Park on May 9, the RailHawks have responded with wins in Miami, Cleveland and Austin over the last eight days, and they outscored those three teams 6-0.

"After losing that game to Charleston at home, we were heartbroken, and we've reacted in the right way," said Carolina coach Martin Rennie. "We've not only defended well, we've attacked well. Winning on the road in this league is tough. It shows the guys have a determination and a desire to do well."

Carolina's Daniel Paladini broke Sunday's deadlock with a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. After Austin was called for a handball in the penalty area, Paladini stepped to the spot and knocked the ball past Austin goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo. It's Paladini's first goal of the season, making him the ninth RailHawk to score this year.

The goal Sunday wrapped up a solid weekend of the Carolina midfielder. In addition to the goal, he had two assists in Friday's 3-0 win at Cleveland.

"He's a really good player," Rennie said of Paladini. "He played really well against Miami the week before and he had a fine weekend for us. I think he's in the right mindset. He's hungry to show how good he is."

Carolina goalkeeper Caleb Patterson recorded six saves and notched his third shutout in four starts and Carolina's fifth clean sheet in nine matches. With their third straight shutout, the RailHawks have not conceded a goal in 306 minutes, the second time this season they've topped the 300-minute mark for holding opponents scoreless.

The RailHawks had a number of chances to get on the board, but Austin's Gallardo (six saves) masterfully tended his goal to keep Carolina scoreless during the run of play.

In the 30th minute, Paladini served a long ball on a re-start to Andriy Budnyy, who headed it toward the Austin goal but Gallardo made a nice save.

Two minutes later, Paladini stole the ball at the edge of the penalty area, but Gallardo was there to turn away his try from 19 yards.

In the 35th minute, Budnyy made a centering pass to Matt Watson just in front of the Aztex goal, but Watson got his feet tangled with his defender and was unable to redirect the ball on frame.

In the 50th minute, Budnyy broke in all alone on the Austin goal but Gallardo charged off his line and turned away Budnyy's breakaway.

The match seemed destined to end a scoreless draw until the RailHawks caught a break in the 83rd minute. Coming down the right flank, Hamed Diallo played a ball into the box intended for Paladini. But the ball grazed an Aztex defender's arm before it reached its target, leading to the game-deciding PK.

"It might have been a soft penalty. I thought we might have had one in the first half, so it evens out," Rennie said. "It was nice to get it and I think we deserved to win."

The win gives the RailHawks (6-2-1) their second three-match winning streak of the season, and it marks the first time in club history Carolina has won three straight on the road.

With 19 points through nine matches, the RailHawks lead Charleston by three points at the top of the USL-1 table, though the Battery have played only eight times so far this season.

The RailHawks will go for their fourth straight win when they return to Cary on Friday. They will face the Cleveland City Stars at WakeMed Soccer Park in the Fox Soccer Channel USL-1 game of the week. Kickoff is at 8 p.m.

LINEUPS

CAR: GK Caleb Patterson, D Jeremy Tolleson, D Devon McKenney, D Mark Schulte, D John Gilkerson, MF Amir Lowery, MF Matt Watson (Kupono Low 77th), MF Daniel Paladini (Brad Rusin, 86t), MF Andriy Budnyy (Hamed Diallo, 69th), MF Joseph Kabwe (Caleb Norkus 89th), F John Cunliffe (Luke Kreamalmeyer 85th).

AUS: GK: Miguel Gallardo, D Josh Alcala, D Lyle Adams, D David Sias, D Kieron Bernard, MF Alex Tapp (AJ Godbolt, 63rd), MF Yordany Alvarez, MF Ryan McMahen, MF Ryan Caugherty (Michael Callahan, 69th), F Sullivan Silva (Kyle Helton, 69th), F Kyle Brown

SCORING SUMMARY

CAR: Daniel Paladini (83rd)

CAUTIONS

CAR: Daniel Paladini (45th)

Check out the North Carolina FC Statistics



USL First Division Stories from May 24, 2009


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