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Bethlehem Held by Saint Louis

By NICHOLAS MURRAY - nicholas.murray@uslsoccer.com, 10/15/17, 5:02PM EDT

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Steel FC left with No. 8-seed after 1-1 draw at Goodman Stadium


Photo courtesy Bethlehem Steel FC

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Bethlehem Steel FC was held to a 1-1 draw by Saint Louis FC on Sunday afternoon at Goodman Stadium, leaving Steel FC with the No. 8-seed in the Eastern Conference for the 2017 USL Cup Playoffs that kick off next weekend. Steel FC’s Aaron Jones had the first real chance in the ninth minute when his curling free kick was comfortably saved by STLFC goalkeeper Devala Gorrick, and Cory Burke shot wide from the right side of the penalty area six minutes later as his effort flashed past the left post after a good through-ball by Adam Najem. Saint Louis went close as Daniel Jackson opened up a chance on a counterattack, but his shot was easily handled by Steel FC goalkeeper Jake McGuire just before the half-hour mark, but the visitors took the lead in the 34th minute when Sebastian Dalgaard seized on a headed back-pass to slide home a finish. Less than a minute later, though, Steel FC equalized as Matt Real fired a low shot in at the near post from the left side of the penalty area. Bethlehem almost took the lead around the hour-mark as a weaving run by Santi Moar resulted in a close-range shot from the left that was saved by Gorrick, and Moar’s chipped cross to Burke off the rebound saw the Jamaican’s header knocked away to safety by the STLFC defense. Moar also went close a few minutes later when he broke in behind the Saint Louis defense, but Gorrick got a piece of the shot which allowed a trailing Konrad Plewa to clear. Burke came close again with eight minutes to go as he cut inside on his defender and sent a low shot toward the left corner, but it hit the post and came back out. Bethlehem pushed on for a late winner in the closing stages, but wasn’t able to find one leaving it with a trip to Louisville City FC in its first postseason contest in club history.

Scoring:
34’ – STL – Sebastian Dalgaard
35’ – BST – Matthew Real

Three Things That Matter:

  • 1. Bethlehem had plenty of chances to take victory on Sunday afternoon, but it’s inability to convert left the side in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings to end the season and with the unenviable task of visiting Louisville City FC to open the USL Cup Playoffs next Friday night. Steel FC will take some solace from its performance when it last visited Slugger Field, a 2-2 draw in early September in which it twice took the lead, but Louisville has won all three of its previous home playoff games and enters on a three-game winning streak, making it a tough proposition to knock off.

  • 2. Steel FC looked the likelier to take the lead in the second half with forward Cory Burke was central to those efforts, but the Jamaican fell victim to some a pair of good saves by Saint Louis goalkeeper Cory Burke and some misfortune as he was unable to come away with a winner for the hosts. Burke’s biggest chance arrived with eight minutes to go as he expertly cut inside his defender in the right side of the penalty area and curled a low, left-footed shot toward the far corner, only to see it hit the inside of the post and carom across the face of goal. Burke’s play has been strong throughout the season, and he’ll be hoping for better luck next week as the playoffs begin.

  • 3. The spell of two goals in two minutes that ended up decided the game in a way encapsulated the season for Saint Louis, which took advantage well of a slack piece of defending to take the lead through Sebastian Dalgaard before giving the advantage back less than a minute later on a disappointing passage of play itself. Saint Louis has missed the postseason in each of its first three seasons, and went young in Sunday’s lineup as a potential preview for next season. When 2018 arrives, cutting out the sort of mistakes that led to Bethlehem’s equalizer must be a priority.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Adam Najem, Bethlehem Steel FC – Najem created four scoring chances from the center of midfield for Bethlehem as he drove the side forward regularly as it looked for a winner in the second half.

Upcoming Games:
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals:
Bethlehem Steel FC at Louisville City FC – Friday, October 20, 7:30 p.m. ET, Slugger Field
Saint Louis FC – End of Season

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