Sunday, June 17, 2012
READING, Pa. – 293 minutes. Not only is it 4 hours and 53 minutes to the everyday person, but it now represents the amount of time it’s been since the Reading United have found the back of the net against the Jersey Express. Despite doubling up the Express in shots, it was United that found itself scoreless for the third straight game against Jersey in a 2-0 loss on Sunday afternoon.
The last 270 of those minutes have come at home, in increasingly more frustrating fashion. First came a 0-0 tie on July 16th, followed by a 1-0 loss 10 days later in the first round of the USL PDL Eastern Conference playoffs. It also marked the third straight home match against Jersey that ended with the hosting United scoreless, as that streak dates back to a June 13th, 2010 match against Jersey, which also ended 2-0.
Those shutouts came at the hands of current New York Red Bull ‘keeper Ryan Meara. This time, it was Rafael Diaz who came up with six saves to keep Reading out of the net.
Joseph Ovenseri broke a scoreless tie in the 60th minute, as he unleashed a blistering knuckler from 30 yards out that rose up and over Reading’s Keasel Broome. Ovenseri would add an assist to his tally 19 minutes later, passing back to the middle of the box from the left side and finding Jerrod Laventure for a 2-0 advantage.
Reading didn’t have a shortage of chances much like their parent club, the Philadelphia Union, the night before. United squandered considerable opportunities to grab the first goal of the match, but couldn’t convert on 12 shots or eight corners. Its closest chances came immediately before Jersey’s first goal, as both Brown and Ribeiro had opportunities in the box deflected away for corners. Ribeiro and Brown led the team in shots, with five and three, respectively.
After Jersey’s first goal, however, Reading’s wind was taken right out of the side's proverbial sails.
With the victory, Jersey leapfrogged Reading into first place in the Mid Atlantic Division with 20 points (6-1-2 record). Reading (6-1-1) still has a game in hand, and can regain their spot at the top of the table over the course of the next eight games.
United will jump right back into USL PDL play on Wednesday down in Baltimore, taking on the upstart Bohemians at 7 p.m. Reading defeated Baltimore at home on June 2nd, as two Deshorn Brown goals provided the offense in a 2-0 win. The Bohemians broke through for their first victory on Saturday, defeating the Westchester Flames 3-1 at Cedar Lane Park.
Reading can avenge their latest struggle against the Express on July 11th at 8pm at NJIT Stadium in Newark, N.J. The last time United travelled to face the Express, they came away with a 3-1 victory, snapping Jersey’s lengthy four-game home shutout streak. Next time out, Reading will be hoping to not only snap their own shutout streak against Jersey, but aiming for three points on the road.
2012 Reading United Game Day Tickets and Season Tickets now available at readingunitedac.com
Also available: Game Day Youth Packages, Group Discount Packages, Birthday Parties and Fundraising Ticket Packages. Contact Denise Strohmayr at denise@readingunitedac.com for all your group needs.