Wednesday, July 31, 2013
PHOENIX -- Second-half goals by Lucky Mkosana and Jamiel Hardware gave the Harrisburg City Islanders a 3-1 victory against Phoenix FC on Wednesday night at Reach 11 Sports Complex. The win moved Harrisburg within two points of Orlando City for second place in the USL PRO standings, and eliminated the Wolves from contention for the USL PRO Playoffs.
Harrisburg scored the only goal of the first half as Matthew Bahner scored his first goal for the club in the 24th minute. The first half proved to be a battle at both ends, with Mkosana going close for the City Islanders and Phoenix also having chances to tie the game up before the break, only for the City Islanders' defense to withstand the pressure until the halftime break.
Phoenix would find the breakthrough five minutes into the second half, however as the Wolves struck on a goal by Donny Toia, his fifth of the season, assisted by David Paul. A good angled ball by Paul into the left channel found Toia, and he fired a high shot home at the near post to make it 1-1. The City Islanders would regain the lead in the 67th minute, though as Mkosana's near-post header off a cross by Morgan Langley restored his side's lead. The goal was Mkosana's sixth in his past four games, giving him nine overall this season.
The Wolves tried to hit back, and Nick Noble was forced into a good save to keep his side ahead, while Toia's second of the night was denied by an offside flag. The City Islanders would put the game away in the second minute of stoppage time, though as Hardware drove home a good effort from the right side of the penalty area.
Phoenix FC is back in action on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 4:30 p.m. PT at Reach 11 Sports Complex. Harrisburg moves on to Los Angeles on Saturday night looking for its third consecutive victory.