Reading Rage News Release - www.bsarage.com
Saturday, July 25, 2009
READING, PA -- The Reading Rage became yet another regular season league champion to see an early exit from the PDL postseason, falling 2-1 to the Cary Clarets in the division final on a late strike.
Saturday night, amid worries of rain, the Reading Rage took to the pitch looking to break a recent streak of bad luck in opening games for number one overall seeds. The number one seed in the PDL playoffs had not won in the last five years, leaving arguably the best teams in the league with nothing more than memories of a great season.
In a game that featured over 20 fouls, six cautions, and two ejections the Reading Rage and Cary Clarets faced off in a heated battle, aiming to take the next step toward a PDL championship.
The two teams were as close to even in the first half as could possibly be. Tied 0-0, tensions strained and tempers flared as each team traded physical play and numerous hard fouls. The Rage had many opportunities to break open the game early, firing 11 shots on goal in the first half, but were turned away each time.
As tensions built on the field, the atmosphere in the stands, created by the largest crowd of the season, became nothing short of electric despite the chance of rain.
The second half began with a flare as the Clarets took control and fired shot after shot at Rage goalie Jeremey Vuolo.
It was the Rage who struck first though as Jon Ports dribbled up the left side of the pitch. Ports got as close as he could to Clarets goalie Akina Fitzgerald before centering a picture perfect pass to forward Aaron Wheeler for his league leading 17th goal of the season in the 57th minute.
Cary did not allow Reading to remain joyous for long though as in the 61st minute Clarets midfielder Tommy Drake navigated through a scrum in front of the goal and headed in a corner kick to tie the game at 1-1.
The game then began to take an ugly turn.
Clarets midfielder Tyler Lassiter was ejected from the game in 68th minute after apparently punching Rage midfielder Evans Frimpong in the throat.
Numerous hard tackles and cautions later, Rage coach Brendan Burke got his own early trip to the locker room as he was dismissed in the 85th minute for throwing his cups of water to the ground and arguing with officials.
After Burke’s ejection and many other long stoppages in play, the officials granted the teams five minutes of stoppage time to decide the affair before overtime.
The Clarets did not waste the opportunity either, as midfielder Christian Ibeagha took a free kick and stuffed it home just before the stoppage time ran out, giving the Clarets a 2-1 lead and leaving fans and players alike dazed and shocked at the outcome.
Reading tried furiously to pump in a tying goal before the clock ran out on their amazing season, but to no avail. They were left with nothing but despair and memories of the great season they had as the players head back home and move off to college. As for Cary they live to see another day, moving on to play Ocean City in the next round of the playoffs.
