Goalkeeper Matt Reed came out to make a sliding save, the one of many he was forced to make on Saturday night.
It’s amazing the difference a day can make. Just 24 hours earlier, the Carolina Railhawks took a two nil defeat to the University of North Carolina Men’s Soccer team in Southern Pines in underachieving fashion. Saturday night was a completely different story.
The Railhawks came out alive and rejuvenated after a lackluster performance Friday night and earned a 1-1 draw against the defending USL First Division champion Montreal Impact. It was a back-and-forth hard fought effort against a well-respected squad for the Railhawks tonight who were tested from the opening whistle. I think its safe to say they passed this preseason test. “I think that was a very good preseason match against a team that is a month ahead of us in preseason matches,” Head Coach of the Railhawks Martin Rennie said after the match. “We passed the ball well and played very competitively.”
The first half action was mostly possession in the midfield with sporadic offensive attacking chances on goal but none really troubling either goalkeeper. The action started in the 13th minute when Railhawks midfielder Daniel Paladini had a close chance to finish in front of goal which sailed over the cross bar. The Impact got in on the offensive side when forward Rocco Placentino had a powerful free kick sail over goal in the 20th minute. Later in the 40th, Impact midfielder Tony Donatelli ripped a vicious half-volley on goal but to his dismay went just wide of Hawks goalkeeper Eric Reed.
After a scoreless first half ended with little offensive rumble and choppy mistake-prone passing, the second half proved quite the contrary. In the 52 minute, the best chance of the game thus far came at the boot of Paladini again. Striker Joseph Ngwenya made a darting run down the left flank and played a brilliant soaring ball across the goal mouth towards Paladini which resulted in an off-balance shank wide.
With the game becoming feisty, three yellow cards being booked, and tempers flaring on both sides, the games took its first major turn in the 67th minute when the Railhawks were awarded a penalty kick. Impact defender Simon Gatti pulled the shirt of Railhawks midfielder Amir Lowry which warranted a foul. The call resulted in a trip to the penalty spot for defender Kapono Low who slotted one to the right corner past the keeper and put the home squad up one nil.
Although, 15 minutes later, referee Saeed Mohamed was forced to point to the penalty spot again, this time eighty yards down field in favor of the Impact. Carolina defender Josh Gardner illegally slid from behind Impact substitute Peter Byers. Moments later defender Nevio Pizzolitto silenced the home crowd and celebrated in jubilation as he put his side dead locked at 1-1 in the 82 minute.
A last gasp effort by the Impact in the 92 minute of stoppage time came when defender Hicham Abou bou scorched a header in on goal but was miraculously saved on the goal line by the body of Gardner and saved the day for Carolina.
“There was a great squad out there in front of me tonight. We waited all preseason to come together as tonight, we worked really well as a cohesive unit,” goalkeeper and MVP of the match Eric Reed said. “We like where we are in preseason right now but we know we have a long season ahead of us. We have more to grow if we want to win a championship this season.”
With the season opening in two weeks and two final matches remaining in preseason action, the Railhawks have plenty of time to still iron out any chinks in their armor before the beginning of their 2010 campaign in the NASL (National American Soccer League). Saturday was an important stepping stone in the long and arduous process of a professional soccer season. With a close 2-1 loss against Major League Soccer powerhouse New England Revolution, and 1-1 draw against defending champion Montreal Impact, the Carolina Railhawks have proven they can play with anyone. Both results are encouraging signs of a successful upcoming season.
