As one streak ends, another continues.
Crystal Palace USA?s shutout streak ended at 364 minutes, but its winning streak continued with a dramatic, 3-2, victory at Western Mass on Saturday.
With the victory, Palace (5-0) moves atop the United Soccer League?s Second Division standings for the first time in its two-year history.
“It?s nice to be there,” Palace president/co-manager Pete Medd said. “Obviously, we want to be there at the end of the year. I?d gladly trade first place now for first place in August. It?s better than how we started last year [0-4], that?s for sure.”
Palace appeared to give up a goal to the Pioneers (2-3-1) in the second minute, but Western Mass forward Jeff Deren was ruled offsides. But just two minutes later, Deren?s header gave his team a 1-0 lead and snapped Palace?s shutout streak at 544 minutes dating to last season.
“That is impressive, even to us,” Medd said. “I think it?s sort of different way to look at things, but the more we attack, the easier it becomes on our defense. By playing attacking soccer, we actually made that happen. We didn?t possess the ball as much in this last game as we have been, but when a team is constantly worried about you and defending you, it?s harder for them to get forward.”
Palace answered the Pioneers? goal by scoring three of the next four goals to end the game. Ibrahim Kante?s free kick from just outside the 18-yard penalty box in the third minute of stoppage time proved to be the difference after Gary Brooks scored in the sixth and 45th minutes.
But Brooks, who leads the team and is second in USL2 with five goals and 11 points, was ejected when he was given a red card for an illegal tackle in the 60th minute. He will serve his one-game suspension on Saturday night at 7, when Palace hosts the second-place Charlotte Eagles (4-1-1) at UMBC Stadium.
“It presents a challenge for us,” Medd said. “We signed a very strong roster of talented players. We know things like this in this game do happen, and you have to just march on.”
