Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Garret Pettis was determined to impress in a rare opportunity to start. Under the lights of Hersheypark Stadium, he scored twice to help the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 3-2 victory against their MLS affiliate, the Philadelphia Union, in a friendly a fortnight before the two teams meet in the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals.
Resolute from the opening whistle, Pettis dogged the Union backline searching for chances. In the 17th minute, midfielder Tom Mellor created an easy one for the spry Pettis. Mellor broke free down the left side of the pitch and slid it to a cutting Pettis, who – at full stretch – clipped it by goalkeeper Chris Konopka.
Pettis, who is currently behind productive strikers Brian Ombiji, Yann Ekra and Sainey Touray in the lineup, struck again in the 75th minute, which would stand as the deciding goal. Second-half substitute Lucky Mkosana fired a long cross to the left side of the penalty area to an awaiting Pettis. The Lipscomb grad volleyed the feed into the left side of the Union net to put the Islanders up 3-1.
Between Pettis’s two goals, Jorge Perlazza and Yann Ekra both scored, showing the 820 in attendance some impressive pace. Perlazza’s rocket came in the 41st off a Michael Lahoud helper, while Ekra needed no assistance in targeting the upper right corner of Konopka’s net in the 55th.
Philadelphia tacked on a late goal in the 81st after Kai Herdling pinpointed a free kick opportunity past the Islanders’ wall – and goalkeeper Brian Holt – into the lower right corner of the net. But the Union would go home disappointed, despite holding a 10-6 advantage in shots and a 14-11 advantage in corners.
Philadelphia (2-7-2) returns to PPL Park on Saturday to face D.C. United at 7 p.m. The Islanders (3-2-4) finish up their long home stand Friday against the Rochester Rhinos. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m.