Sunday, June 30, 2013
READING, Pa. -- Reading United and the Jersey Expres played to a 2-2 draw as the Express scored late on to force a stalemate between the Mid Atlantic Division powers. First-place United and third-place Jersey finished deadlocked in the first game of a home-and-home series that will have massive implications on the divisional playoff race.
United were on the front foot from the opening whistle. Reading’s midfield tandem of Dante Marini and Jason Plumhoff worked to create openings for forwards Larry Ndjock and Mario Pinto. Even with Jersey keeping numbers behind the ball, Pinto and Ndjock were able to find holes in the Express’ back line.
Plumhoff, currently leading United in assists, created the first clear chance of the match in the 15th minute. Working down the left channel, the midfielder looked up and saw defender Jimmy Ockford streaking toward goal. Plumhoff hit a perfect ball that Ockford headed just inches wide of the Jersey net.
Jersey had its own good chance to open the scoring just five minutes later. Express forward Moriken Sangary stole a ball from United captain Damion Lowe and raced into the United penalty area. Fortunately for the home side, Sangary fizzed his shot well wide of Alex Bono’s net.
United opened the scoring in the 25th minute, following a foul by Jersey 29 yards from goal. Plumhoff, who has been excellent for United all season in dead ball situations, stood over the free kick and struck a well placed ball that Pinto flicked on to Ndjock. The forward from Loyola University calmly headed the ball into the back of the Express goal to hand Reading a deserved lead.
United continued to hold the edge in possession and outshot the Express six to three in the opening 45 minutes. The teams went into locker rooms at halftime with United in control with a 1-0 lead.
The second half opened with Jersey causing early troubles for the Reading defense as the Express searched for the equalizer. United absorbed the pressure well and began to settle into their pass and move style of play. Express keeper Jon Dawson did very well to keep Reading’s lead at just one, making several clutch saves to deny the potent United attack.
As the match drew towards its conclusion, the Express mounted heavy pressure on Reading’s defense. In the 84th minute, Jersey midfield Brayan Martinez stripped the ball from Ockford and was in one on one with Bono. The goalkeeper did well to block Martinez’s first shot, but the rebound trickled on toward goal. Lowe raced in to clear the ball off the goal line and end the threat.
Jersey would get its equalizer in the 86th minute. Thomas McNamara wriggled his way past two United defenders and beat Bono low and to the near post to help the Express draw level. Undeterred and looking for the victory, United took the kickoff and charged into the Jersey end of the pitch. Darius Madison found space along the right touchline and worked the ball into the box. The Union Academy product found Pinto with a precision pass. With defenders converging, the forward flicked a ball towards the center of the Express penalty. Second half substitute Manolo Sanchez volleyed a shot into the back of the net to put United back in front in the 88th minute.
There would be one final twist in the dramatic closing minutes of the match. Deep in stoppage time, the Express won a corner kick and piled numbers into the Reading penalty area. McNamara took the corner and fired into the scrum of bodies, where Joseph Niouky lost his marker and headed home the equalizer.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with both teams set to face off again in Newark, N.J. on Monday night.
“We have to win now," Reading coach Brendan Burke said. "This would have been a huge win that would have allowed us to go get a point there tomorrow and keep ahead in the standings. But this tripped us up, so we have a lot of work to do tomorrow.”