Harrisburg City Islanders News Release -- www.cityislanders.com
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Late goals from J.T. Noone and Sainey Touray lifted the Harrisburg City Islanders to a 2-1 win against Reading United AC in a first round U.S. Open Cup match on Tuesday night at the Skyline Sports Complex. Harrisburg’s Chase Harrison made five saves in goal for the win.
The City Islanders will host USL PRO rival the Rochester Rhinos in a second round Open Cup match next Tuesday, June 21, at Skyline. Kickoff will be 7 p.m. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, June 15.
Neither side could seem to find a way to break through for most of an evenly-played first half. A Jose Angulo free kick in the 18th minute was knocked away by Reading keeper Brian Holt (two saves). Shortly thereafter, Harrisburg’s Brian Ombiji tried to catch Holt off his line from outside the penalty area, but the chip was cleared away.
At the other end, Harrison turned aside a ferocious 15-yard volley from Reading forward Matt Sanner in the 30th minute. Just five minutes later, though, United defender David Rodriguez nodded home a Christian Barreiro free kick. Reading held the 1-0 lead at halftime.
Though the ejection of United defender Stephen Okai in the 53rd minute gave Harrisburg a little more room to play, the City Islanders couldn’t solve Reading’s staunch defense. But in the 86th minute, Jason Hotchkin chested down a loose ball in the goalmouth, and Noone popped it home for a 1-1 tie. Then in stoppage time, Touray sent Harrisburg through to the second round, sliding in a Jordan Seabrook feed for the 2-1 win.
The City Islanders return to regular season play this Friday in Richmond at 7 p.m. The club’s next regular season home game will be on Saturday, July 2, against the Charlotte Eagles. Kickoff will be 7 p.m.