USL PRO Recap

Published on June 3, 2013 under United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Harrisburg City Islanders rallied from going a goal down to take a 2-1 victory against the Charleston Battery at Blackbaud Stadium on Friday night. The victory reversed the Battery's 2-1 win in Harrisburg earlier this season as Sainey Touray and Stephen Basso scored to earn their side the victory.

The Battery created the first opportunity of the game with Taylor Mueller heading over the crossbar from a free kick by Jose Cuevas in the 10th minute. Neither side was able to create many clear-cut chances beyond that until the Battery took the lead in the 36th minute through Ben Fisk, who was on hand to finish from 10 yards after a good low cross by Mike Azira.

Harrisburg hit back immediately, with Touray taking advantage of a goalkeeping blunder by Charleston's Odisnel Cooper, who tried to beat the City Islanders' forward as he pressed instead of clearing and lost possession, giving Touray an open net to finish into two minutes after the Battery's goal. The two goals brought the game to life, and Fisk was denied a second by a good save from Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble. Cooper also made a fine save to deny the City Islanders moments before halftime as the teams went to the break level.

Charleston's Nicki Paterson came close to restoring his side's lead early in the second half, sending a free kick from 20 yards just wide of the right post, but the City Islanders took the lead nine minutes after the break after they were awarded a penalty when Jimmy McLaughlin was brought down going for a rebound off a shot by Yann Ekra. Basso sent his shot high into the left corner of the net as Harrisburg took a 2-1 lead.

Harrisburg came close to adding to its lead with 10 minutes to go when Morgan Langley hit a rasping shot off the outside of the left post. Paterson then forced a good save from Noble at his left post, a low half-volley being turned aside by the City Islanders' goalkeeper. The City Islanders withstood a pair of stoppage-time corners by the Battery, however, to hold on for victory.

FRIDAY

RICHMOND 1, PHOENIX 0: The Richmond Kickers remained undefeated as Nate Robinson's first-half goal, his second in as many USL PRO games, gave his side victory against Phoenix FC at City Stadium. Richmond has now gone nine games undefeated to start the USL PRO season.

Both teams had chances early, with the better coming to the Wolves. Renan Boufleur shot just wide from a corner kick and Donny Toia also missed the target after being played into the right side of the penalty area. The Kickers took longer to create opportunities, but were able to take the lead on the half-hour mark as Nate Robinson sent a curling finish into the top-left corner of the net.

The Kickers held their lead into the second half, and Casey Townsend came close to adding to it three minutes in as he was played in by Joseph Ngwenya, only to pull his shot wide of the post. Phoenix continued to create chances, and Scott Morrison had a chance from a free kick just outside the penalty area, only to send his effort over the crossbar.

Diego Faria was dangerous for the Wolves in the final quarter of the game, forcing a save from Ryan Jones in the 67th minute and shooting wide of the post seven minutes later off a pass from Aaron King. Phoenix continued to press in the final 10 minutes to try and find an equalizer, but the Kickers were able to withstand the late pressure to claim all three points.

ROCHESTER 2, LOS ANGELES 2: The Rochester Rhinos got a late goal by Tam McManus to earn a draw with the Los Angeles Blues at Sahlen's Stadium. The Rhinos twice tied the game, with Chris Cortez and George Davis IV giving the Blues the lead late in the first and second halves, and Blake Brettschneider tying the game for the first time early in the second half.

Cortez came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute, but his low drive was well saved by Rhinos goalkeeper Kristian Nicht at the left post. Cortez forced another save from Nicht a few minutes later, but Rochester gradually gained the upper hand, and Brettschneider had a good shot saved by Blues goalkeeper Mohammad Mohammadi in the 17th minute.

Brettschneider went close again in the 28th minute, playing a good give-and-go with Tyler Rosenlund to break into the penalty area, but Mohammadi was quickly off his line to smother the shot. The Blues hit the Rhinos on the counter-attack to take the lead, however, as Cortez was able to just beat Nicht to Gabriel Gonzalez's through ball to head home in the 40th minute.

Rochester hit back five minutes into the second half as a fine piece of interplay released Rosenlund into the right side of the penalty area, and his low cross was put home by Brettschneider from just outside the six-yard box. The Rhinos looked for the lead, but missed the target with a pair of opportunities before the Blues regained their composure and got back into the contest.

The game had an extensive delay with 20 minutes remainig as Jimmy Turner fell awkwardly on the Sahlen's Stadium turf, a major reason for the eight minutes of stoppage time added at the end of the contest, but both teams continued to push forward for a go-ahead goal immediately following the stoppage. The Blues forced a good save from Nicht as Cortez hit a turning shot from 12 yards, but Los Angeles went ahead with nine minutes to go as Davis IV was on hand to tuck away the rebound after Nicht wasn't able to control a shot by Cortez.

Rochester hit back with two minutes to go, however, as a low cross by Josh Faga found Brettschneider 15 yards from goal, and his touch found McManus, who poked home a finish into the right corner of the net.

The Rhinos came close to grabbing a winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time with Mike Reidy controlling well in the left side of the penalty area off a long ball before driving his shot off the crossbar and out. The Blues held on to earn a point, however, as honors ended even.

SATURDAY

PITTSBURGH 3, ROCHESTER 0: The Pittsburgh Riverhounds extended their undefeated streak in USL PRO to six games as they took the victory against the Rochester Rhinos at Highmark Stadium. Jose Angulo and Jhonny Arteaga scored on either side of halftime to lead the Riverhounds to victory.

Both teams had chances to take the lead early, with Hunter Gilstrap making a good save for the Riverhounds after Mike Reidy was able to get behind Pittsburgh's defense. The Riverhounds looked to get the ball wide frequently, and that ended up in creating the opening goal. After Matt Dallman hit the crossbar, the rebound came to Angulo on the left side of the penalty area, and his low shot beat Kristian Nicht at the near post from eight yards.

Rochester came close to tying the game shortly after the halftime break, with Tyler Rosenlund stealing possession in midfield before forcing a save from Gilstrap from 20 yards out. Tam McManus also had an effort a few minutes later, but the Riverhounds gradually took control of the game, and were able to add to their lead in the 63rd minute as Arteaga headed home a cross by Angulo to make it 2-0.

The Rhinos made a push to get back into the game, but the Riverhounds were able to hold them in check defensively. Pittsburgh clinched victory with two minutes to go as Ryan Kinne was played in on the right side of the penalty area and shot low into the left corner to cap the scoring.

TAMPA BAY 4, PORTLAND RESERVES 4: The Portland Timbers Reserves came back from a three-goal halftime deficit to earn a draw with VSI Tampa Bay FC at Plant City Stadium. Sebastian Rincon and Jose Valencia each scored early in the second half before Sal Zizzo scored from the penalty spot to earn his side a point.

After a 50-minute lightning delay, Tampa Bay took the lead in the opening minute through Andriy Budnyy. Portland hit back four minutes later as Michael Nanchoff found the equalizer, but Tampa Bay regained the lead as Budnyy scored his second of the game on the quarter-hour mark.

Three minutes later it was 3-1, with Shawn Chin finding the back of the net for VSI. Tampa Bay then added a fourth just before the halftime whistle as Douglas Dos Santos finished off his own rebound after a good save by Jake Gleeson had denied the first opportunity.

Portland came storming back after the halftime break, and Rincon pulled the first goal back six minutes into the second half as he rifled home a finish from 25 yards into the top-right corner of the net. Valencia followed with another five minutes later, and the comeback was complete with 20 minutes to go as Zizzo calmly converted from the spot after being forced to retake his original effort after a teammate encroached on the penalty area.

Both sides had chances to take the lead following Zizzo's goal as Alex Horwath made a point-blank save to deny a header in the 73rd minute, and Budnyy was denied his chance at a hat trick as Gleeson deflected his shot from 17 yards high and wide. In the end, though, honors ended even after an eight-goal thriller.

WILMINGTON 2, PHOENIX 1: The Wilmington Hammerheads broke a two-game losing streak in the league as they took victory against Phoenix FC at Legion Stadium. Jamel Wallace and Daniel Roberts scored for the Hammerheads, who took their third win of the season.

The Hammerheads jumped ahead early, taking the lead in the sixth minute as a long throw-in by Uriah Bentick was headed home by Jamel Wallace. The Wolves almost hit back immediately through Diego Faria, whose shot was turned wide by Phil Tuttle in the Hammerheads' goal.

The Wolves were able to get back on even terms four minutes before the break, with Donny Toia bursting through the Hammerheads' defense before sending a low shot past the advancing Tuttle. The Hammerheads grabbed the lead back at the stroke of halftime, however, as Daniel Roberts scored his first goal for the club to give Wilmington a 2-1 lead.

The game became more physical in the second half, with a number of yellow cards being issued and few chances for either side. Phoenix pushed to get an equalizer, but the Hammerheads were able to control possession well at times to salt the game away, claiming all three points.

HARRISBURG 4, CHARLOTTE 0: The Harrisburg City Islanders completed a sweep of their weekend road trip as they took victory against the Charlotte Eagles at the Queens Sports Complex. Aaron Wheeler scored twice for Harrisburg as the City Islanders moved into second place in the USL PRO standings.

Harrisburg took the lead quickly, with Cristhian Hernandez putting home a free kick in the sixth minute to put his side ahead. The City Islanders doubled their advantage 12 minutes later as Wheeler fired a shot in off the right post, and he then converted from the spot in the 22nd minute after being brought down in the penalty area to give Harrisburg a 3-0 lead at the halftime break.

The City Islanders carried the lead to the halftime break, and continued to play well in the second half. Charlotte also had opportunities to get back into the game, with Nick Noble making a good save to tip a shot from Stephen Okai onto the post and out for a corner midway through the half, but Harrisburg was able to add a late goal through Jimmy McLaughlin to cap the scoring.

SUNDAY

DAYTON 0, LOS ANGELES 0: The Dayton Dutch Lions and Los Angeles Blues played to a scoreless draw at Beavercreek Stadium. The draw saw both team retain their positions in the USL PRO standings, with the Blues sitting fifth and the Dutch Lions seventh.

After an energetic opening 20 minutes that saw both teams negate each other in the attacking end, the Blues almost took the lead in the 26th minute as Shay Spitz got in behind the Dutch Lions' defense and lifted a shot over the advancing Matt Williams, only for a retreating Greg Preciado to head over the crossbar for a corner. The Blues had the better of the chances in the first half, but didn't overly threaten Williams as the game went to the break scoreless.

The Blues came close to opening the scoring three minutes into the second half, but Williams was on hand to make an excellent pair of saves to deny halftime substitute Duach Jock. The Dutch Lions came close after the entrance of Gibson Bardsley just past the hour-mark, with the Dutch Lions' leading scorer sending a through-ball that released Remco Klaasse into the penalty area, only for the shot to be smothered by Allan Russell and Blues goalkeeper Mohammed Mohammadi.

Los Angeles again went close with six minutes to go, with Russell's fierce free kick being punched away by Williams. A minute later the Dutch Lions hit the post, Tjeerd Westdijk's cross being flicked on by Klaasse to Bardsley, only for his bicycle kick to come back off the frame. That would prove the final scoring opportunity as honors ended even.

United Soccer League Championship Stories from June 3, 2013

• Lions Play Friday, Sunday at Home In Regular Season Action - Orlando City SC
• USL PRO Recap - USL
• Islanders Set to Take On Hammerheads - Penn FC
• Eagles Travel to Charleston in USL PRO Action - Charlotte Eagles

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