Sunday, June 30, 2013
HARRISON, N.J. – The Wilmington Hammerheads scored a pair of second-half goals to rally for a 2-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on Sunday afternoon. The victory gave the Hammerheads a sweep of the home-and-home series between the teams, and moved the Hammerheads into 10th place in the USL PRO standings, four points out of eighth.
The game-winner came in the 88th minute as second-half substitute Steven Perry put home a cross by Bryce Taylor from the right at the near post. The Hammerheads had taken a 1-0 win against the Red Bulls Reserves in their first meeting of the season at Legion Stadium.
The Red Bulls Reserves had a good early opportunity as the ball broke to them for a three-on-two break, but Lloyd Sam sent his shot from just inside the penalty area just over the crossbar. Wilmington came close in the 18th minute as Daniel Steres’ header from a corner kick went just wide of the right post, and the Red Bulls also went close from a corner of their own two minutes later as Matt Miazga headed off the post.
The Red Bulls continued to threaten as the half went on, and Troy Hernandez made a good save to deny Marius Obekop after the left winger cut into the penalty area for a shot from 15 yards. Bradley Wright-Phillips also went close twice, only to miss the target each time, for the Red Bulls, but Obekop would give New York the lead seven minutes before halftime as he controlled and fired home into the left corner of the net after a good spell of pressure.
Wilmington opened the second half more brightly, and had a couple of early efforts on goal as they tried to get back on even terms from Shawn Nicklaw and Bryce Taylor. The Hammerheads would get back on even terms as new signing Mickael Oliveira drove home an outstanding finish from outside the penalty area after being brought on as a halftime substitute.
Both sides went after a game-winner in the final half-hour, with Hernandez making a comfortable save from Andre Akpan on a header and Oliveira sending a long-range effort over the bar from 20 yards.
Amando Moreno also had a good effort for the Red Bulls with four minutes to go, sending a shot from 20 yards over the crossbar, but it was the Hammerheads who stole all three points with two minutes to go as Perry put away Taylor’s cross for a crucial victory.