Reading Rage News Release - www.bsarage.com
Friday, May 29, 2009
CHARLESTON, WV -- The Reading Rage came from behind in a 3-2 win over West Virginia Chaos Friday evening. In a game in which 23 fouls and 4 cautions seemed to set the tone for the evening, the Rage were able to match the physical style of play favored by West Virginia and secure a deserved road win.
After a seven-plus hour road trip, the Rage were bound to suffer from some bus lag against the physical West Virginia Chaos.
It surely showed as the Chaos quickly pounced on some sloppy Rage defending in the sixth minute when Jamie Davis crushed home a 20-yard blast.
Throughout the rest of the first half the Rage started to gain their legs and applied constant pressure on the Chaos defense. Chaos goalkeeper Adam Mitchell made several brilliant point blank saves to maintain a 1-0 halftime lead for his team.
At the start of the second half the Rage started to show their class led by PDL player of the week Adam Gazda. In the 59th minute Gazda created some space for a hard shot from the top of the penalty area and Chaos goalkeeper Mitchell was unable to control the rebound and Rage defender Ged Quinn was able to slot home the tying goal.
The Rage continued to dominate but West Virginia wasn't about to go quietly into the night. In the 62nd minute Rage goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo made an incredible stop on a Chaos counter which allowed the Rage to possess and create an opportunity of their own.
After West Virginia defender Vick Harrison was issued a caution after a Chaos foul, Adam Gazda stepped up to take the free kick. From 22 yards out Gazda deposited a majestic goal to give the Rage the 2-1 lead in the 67th minute.
With under 10 minutes to play Rage workhorse midfielder Jason Yeisley outhustled his midfield opponent and planted a perfectly headed through ball into the path of Gazda, whose pace tied the Chaos defender in knots and he cheekily poked a short side goal into the back of the Chaos goal for a 3-1 lead in the 82nd minute.
Undaunted, the Chaos continued to pressure and a Ryan Messick 86th minute miskick cross caught the Rage defense out and found the back of the net and cut the score to 3-2.
The Rage made some tactical substitutions and were able to slow the pace and kill off the remaining time to hang on to the deserved 3-2 road win.
The Rage return to action Sunday on the road against Fredericksburg.
