USL PRO Game Report
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - The Harrisburg City Islanders took a 3-1 victory in the second leg of the Keystone Derby at Highmark Stadium Wednesday night. After a 45-minute rain delay, second-half goals from Clesio Bauque and Yann Ekra proved to be the difference as the City Islanders claimed their third win of the USL PRO season.
Pittsburgh's Joseph Ngwenya was one of the first players to make a strong offensive move in the game, with a wide shot from a Rob Vincent cross in the second minute. Ngwenya was called upon again in the fifth minute. This time, Matthew Dallman crossed it to Ngwenya in the box, but after controlling the ball he was taken down and awarded a penalty. Collins John stepped up to the spot and fired it low and to the right past diving Harrisburg goalkeeper Nick Noble to make it 1-0 in the seventh minute.
The remainder of the half was back and forth between the teams and while the score remained 1-0 in the Riverhounds' favor, the City Islanders led in shots (7-3) and corners (3-1) after the first 45 minutes.
It didn’t take long after the intermission for the City Islanders to get their offense going. In the 46th minute Ngwenya involved in another penalty, but this time he gave it to Harrisburg. Bauque was taken down from behind in the box and Jimmy McLaughlin took the shot from the spot. Michael Lisch made the initial save for Pittsburgh, but the rebound went straight back to McLaughlin for an easy tap-in to draw the game even at 1-1.
Harrisburg took the lead just after the hour mark and didn’t look back. Bauque took a shot from outside the box and Lisch was not able to extend far enough to make the save in the 63rd minute.
Yann Ekra added the insurance goal in the 82nd minute with a shot that Lisch was able to get hands to, but not enough to hold onto the ball as it slipped between his legs and into the back of the net.
Harrisburg improves to 3-2-6 with 11 points, while the Riverhounds fall to 1-7-4 with seven points. The teams will meet again for the third and final leg of the Keystone Derby on Saturday at Skyline Sports Complex.