The Harrisburg City Islanders improved to 4-1 in their last five games and moved firmly into second place after a 3-1 win over the Antigua Barracuda FC at the Skyline Sports Complex. The Islanders were able to bounce back from a loss last week to the Colorado Rapids Reserves with a strong showing against the Barracudas. Sainey Touray netted his seventh goal of the season, moving him to third in the league in scoring.
Taurean Manders was an unused substitute in for the match.
Antigua came out playing very defensively, keeping eight players behind the halfway line for the majority of the first half. The Islanders had a few early chances but were not able to get any quality chances on net.
The opening goal came in the 30th minute when Islanders’ forward Morgan Langley drove down the middle of the pitch after a pass from midfield opened up the field. Langley had team leading scorer, Touray, to his left but decided to keep it to him self and take the shot. The initial shot was saved by Antigua’s goalie, Molvin James, but he was not able to control it. The ball came right back to Langley’s feet, and he struck it into the net for his fourth goal of the season.
The next goal came off a botched play by the Antigua defense. The ball was punted high in the air to Touray, who controlled the ball off his chest, only for it to fall to the Barracudas' Karanja Mack. The Antigua defender tried to control the ball, but Touray slipped around the defense and tapped the ball that dribbled across the line for the second goal of the game and ultimately the game-winning goal.
Within the first two minutes of the second half the Barracudas cut the Islanders’ lead in half with a goal from Orlando Mitchum. The ball fell to Mitchum, who took a shot that deflected off Nick Noble into the air. Mitchum jumped and got his head on the ball, which then floated over Noble for Antigua’s first goal against the Islanders.
The pivotal point in the game came when Antigua's Eugine Kirwan came streaking down the field and put a shot through the goalmouth. The cross fell to Mitchum, who was unable to get his shot on target to keep the Islanders up by one.
The final goal of the game came off of a laser shot by Yann Ekra from a knifing pass from Lucky Mkosana, who redirected a pass to Ekra from the top of the penalty area; Ekra took one step and struck the ball hard and true, and the shot blew past the outstretched James, who never had a chance, and to the back of the net.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Lambe and Toronto Snap Winless Streak
IslandStats.com
In a match between two clubs scuffling through the 2013 campaign, Reggie Lambe and his Toronto FC teammates rallied from an early hole and then outlasted home standing D.C. United to snap an 11-game winless streak with a 2-1 win at RFK Stadium.
Robert Earnshaw scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 30th minute for Toronto and D.C. United coughed up an own goal off the head of defender Daniel Woolard in the 41st to erase a penalty kick from Dwayne De Rosario in the 19th minute.
The loss extended DC's winless streak to 13 consecutive matches, a club record. They have led for a total of just 41 minutes this season.
Lambe played the final 13 minutes of the match when he replaced Bobby Convey in the 77th minute.
After a collection of missed opportunities in an energetic opening five minutes, United’s Nick DeLeon made an inspired run down the center of the field in the 18th minute. Just as DeLeon reached the box, he was clipped by Toronto defender Gale Agbossoumonde and fell forward. Referee Hilario Grajeda immediately pointed to the spot, awarding United their first penalty kick of the season.
De Rosario, who scored a hat trick in United’s Open Cup win on Wednesday, beat goalkeeper Joseph Bendik low and to his right in the 19th minute to give D.C. its first lead since March 9.
The lead, however, was short-lived. Defender Steven Caldwell delivered a strong ball toward the box on a free kick, where Earnshaw was one-on-one against defender Brandon McDonald and, despite yielding five inches to the taller McDonald, Earnshaw headed the ball by D.C. ’keeper Bill Hamid to level the match, 1-1.
Toronto took the lead for good shortly before the break when Luis Silva sent a free kick into the box that deflected off the head of Daniel Woolard and by Hamid for United’s third own-goal of the season, and their second set-piece mistake of the match.
Bendik loomed large for TFC in the second half with a sprawling save on DeLeon’s attempt in the 47th minute. In the 58th minute DeLeon crossed a ball to De Rosario, which he chipped on goal, but Bendik threw his hand up to deny DC’s captain. De Rosario left the match in the 70th minute.
Toronto picked up their first road win of the season as they moved one point behind Chicago for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, DC remain in last place and fell to 1-6-1 at home in a match where former D.C. teammates Ryan Nelsen and Ben Olsen coached against one another for the first time.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Women's Division Round Up
Sidekicks 3 Somerset Hurricanes 0
Sidekicks came out this week looking to pick up their first win of the season in the still yet to be officially announced Bermuda Football Association’s Women’s Division.
Tschana Wade gave Sidekicks the lead in the first half as they took it to the break. Teiyah Durham doubled the lead midway through the second half and then Wade scored her second of the game to earn the Sidekicks a 3 – 0 win over the Somerset Hurricanes.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Bascome/Lowe Charity Football Classic
IslandStats.com
The Men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity incorporated and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity incorporated are hosting the Third Annual Bascome/Lowe Charity Football Classic.
The aim of the tournament is to bring these two organizations that are committed to the development of the youth (especially young males) together for a friendly football match that will ultimately raise money for charity.
The football game will take place Friday June 21st at 5:30pm at National Stadium’s (North Field) or Frog Lane. All charities can win up to $1000. Simply bring 10 or more of your members and wear the color of the fraternity you support (Red for Kappas and Gold or yellow for the Alphas) and enter the name of your organization into the draw.
The Classic is named in honor of two powerful community servants who dedicated their entire lives to service- (Kappa) Minister Nelson Bascome (deceased) and (Alpha) Rev. Doctor Wilbur Lowe (deceased).
Also, the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta will be an added attraction this year with a “Stroll Off” during half time.
The ultimate beneficiary of this Classic will be the community, as this is a family friendly event that celebrates the best of who we are.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
BFA & ABC Offer UEFA B Course
IslandStats.com
ABC Football School in collaboration with the Bermuda Football Association completed a well received and oversubscribed C license course in April of this year. The course was a tremendous success with 45 coaches participating in a very good course, completing their first 20 hours of the 40 hour requirement, with the second half being completed this upcoming September, ahead of the 2013/14 season start.
The initial part of the B license phase of the coaching education provided by ABC Football School will be offered September 24th through to October 4th. This course will be conducted by Donald Park, the Scottish Football Association head coach of education. ABC Football School in collaboration with Jacques Crevoisier has identified suitable candidates and has also begun a registration process for other suitable candidates to apply to be accepted on this course. Registration is now open and will close June 30th 2013. For more information please see attached document.
This coaching education represents another opportunity for local coaches to obtain quality instruction, without leaving our shores, at considerable cost savings.
