Crystal Palace Baltimore News Release - www.crystalpalaceusa.com
Friday, August 14, 2009
BALTIMORE, MD -- Saturday night sees Crystal Palace Baltimore's 2009 season come to an end with a road matchup against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. Pride will be the primary motivating factor in this game as both teams were eliminated from playoff contention last week. The match kicks off at 7:05pm at Chartiers Valley High School Stadium.
Crystal Palace Baltimore President and Co-Manager, Pete Medd remarked: "If we would have scored just a couple more goals this season, we'd have made it to the playoffs, no doubt. We've been playing really well and we'd be a tough team to be reckoned with, we just weren't scoring."
Palace are coming off back-to-back goalless draws, most recently on the road at playoff-bound Harrisburg last weekend. That result combined with Real Maryland's victory over visiting Bermuda and Charlotte's defeat of Pittsburgh meant Baltimore could not finish higher than sixth. Pittsburgh's playoff hopes were also ended by the combination of results last weekend and will end their campaign in eight spot. The top five teams qualify for the post-season.
The Palace defense has performed exceptionally well this year, conceding just 19 goals, the second fewest in the league behind Richmond's 16. If they can keep a clean sheet in Pittsburgh tomorrow, they'll beat their record 2007 season of 20 goals against. However, a lack of finishing at the other end -- despite the high number of chances created in almost every match -- has doomed Baltimore to their first losing record in their young history after going 9-5-6 (W-D-L) their first season and 11-1-8 last year. Unless the offense can find their scoring touch in a big way tomorrow evening, Baltimore will finish with the lowest number of goals scored by any team in the league.
Bryan Harkin picked up his fifth yellow card of the season last week at the City Islanders so the Northern Irish midfielder is suspended and won't make the trip to Pittsburgh. Defender Stephen Basso will also be absent due to a minor injury. Billy Chiles is expected to get his second start of the season in goal, while Nigerian defender Wale Adelusimi will also move off the bench for his first start of the season. 18-year old midfielder Neil Vranis likely won't start tomorrow but should still see significant playing time.
