Second Home Win of Season Lifts Baltimore Within Two Points of Playoff Spot

August 14, 2010 - U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 (USSF D-2)
Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release


Baltimore, MD - Crystal Palace Baltimore picked up a much needed win on Saturday night, as they defeated the Carolina RailHawks, 2-1, in front of a boisterous crowd at Baltimore Polytechnic Institute's Lumsden-Scott Stadium. Tsuyoshi Yoshitake opened the scoring for the home side on 21 minutes, and Gary Brooks put Baltimore up 2-0 four minutes after the restart. Matt Watson scored the lone Carolina goal with 14 minutes to play. The win moves Baltimore (6-10-6) to within two points of Tampa Bay for the eighth and final playoff spot in USSF Division 2, with eight games remaining.

Carolina looked to grab the lead early in the game, compiling a multitude of chances in the first ten minutes of the match. Tiyi Shipalane was the first to test the luck of Baltimore goalkeeper Evan Bush five minutes in, but the striker's shot sailed high over the crossbar. In the ninth minute, Daniel Paladini connected on a dangerous free kick from 35 yards away, but the ball landed squarely in the gloves of Bush. A minute later, Floyd Franks latched on to a header near the six-yard box, but sent his effort just wide of goal.

Palace responded with a quick flurry of activity in the RailHawks' end, but ultimately, a weak header by Dan Lader was no trouble for Carolina's netminder, Eric Reed. At the 21-minute mark, the home side finally got through the Carolina backline, as Santiago Fusilier delivered a well-weighted ball in to Tsuyoshi Yoshitake, who sprinted past a Carolina defender, and struck a low shot past the right side of Reed, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Yoshitake almost helped to double Palace's lead just two minutes later, as his cross inside the box was directed towards Pat Healey, who had no Carolina defenders surrounding him. However, the ball skipped past Healey, who mistimed his slide and failed to get a touch on it. Carolina ramped up the pressure late in the first half, keeping possession for longer periods in Palace's end, but the RailHawks couldn't find room to get a shot on Bush. After one minute of stoppage time was announced, Carolina almost had their equalizer, but a 30-yard blast from Gregory Richardson was well handled by Bush.

As the second half commenced, Baltimore looked to be the stronger side, winning the possession battle that Carolina had dominated late in the first half. On 49 minutes, Pat Healey had the ball at his feet, and delivered a nicely timed chip to Gary Brooks. With just the keeper to beat, Brooks slotted home his third goal of the season, doubling Baltimore's lead to 2-0.

With the game approaching the hour mark, the RailHawks decided to shake things up by making three substitutions to their side. The addition of those fresh players seemed to motivate the visitors minutes after the changes. In the 67th, Greg Shields made a nice flick on to substitute Cory Elenio, who forced Bush to tip the shot over the bar. Paladini tried his luck on another free kick three minutes later, but this time, the ball was well over the net. Carolina finally netted a goal in the 76th minute, as Matt Watson unleashed a fierce shot that hit the tip half of the net. The RailHawks were back in the match, trailing 2-1.

With less than five minutes to play, Carolina was desperate to salvage a point from this exciting contest. Elenio almost made Baltimore pay in the 86th, but his 20-yard effort sizzled just inches over the bar, much to the relief of Bush. The goal scorer, Watson, provided the best opportunity to equalize with just two minutes of regulation time remaining. After a nice run to the edge of the box, Watson uncorked a shot that forced Bush to make a heroic diving stop to his right.

Carolina continued to press into stoppage time, but neither Andriy Budnyy nor Mark Schulte could get their attempts on target, as Baltimore held on for the 2-1 victory. The win was the first for Palace at home since their 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers on May 22. Baltimore will face the Rochester Rhinos in their next match on Wednesday, August 18. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm at Paul Angelo Russo Stadium, located on the campus of Calvert Hall College High School.



U.S. Soccer Federation D-2 Stories from August 14, 2010


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