Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release - www.crystalpalaceusa.com
Sunday, June 8, 2008
BALTIMORE, MD -- The temperature on the field was well over 100 degrees as the game kicked off at 5:30pm in front of 557 brave souls. Both teams had played two days earlier and today’s heat clearly took its toll on the players as the coaches for each side used all five substitutes during the match.
Palace came out of the blocks faster than Harrisburg, moving the ball around and creating more attacking play than they had in their previous two outings but actual scoring opportunities were scarce.
Dan Lader had Palace’s first real chance on 22 minutes after Andrew Marshall headed on Bryan Harkin’s corner, but Lader was off balance and shot over the bar.
In the 35th Harkin was the provider again as his cross found Matthew Mbuta 8 yards out, but his header lacked power and was easily handled by Danny Cepero in the Harrisburg net.
Harrisburg’s only threat was a free kick on 7 minutes that was headed wide by Ryan Pierce and then in the last minute of the half Matt Nelson had no problems with an effort from distance.
The second half saw Harrisburg come into the game more. The visitors thought they had the lead on 55 minutes but the goal didn’t count thanks to an offside flag. Harrisburg had another good chance 5 minutes later when Steve Fisher collected a through ball from Brian Ombiji but he put his effort wide.
On 67 minutes, Harrisburg finally broke through as midfielder Yu Hoshide found Ombiji on the left edge of the six yard box and he tucked it under a diving Matt Nelson.
Palace tried to build from the back for the remainder of the half but invariably gave the ball away in transition through the midfield. When the City Islanders had the ball, they were content to play the possession game - an understandable tactic given their lead and the temperature - and so the score remained 1-0 as the final whistle sounded. The loss was Palace’s third in a row after winning their opening five encounters.
Palace fly to California on Monday morning for Tuesday’s US Open Cup 1st round tie with PDL team, the Los Angeles Legends at Azusa Pacific University.
