Express finish Open Cup qualifying with a perfect 4-0-0 record.
Newark NJ May 19, 2010
The perfect record does not assure the Express a spot in the tournament. While their win eliminates Ocean City, Northern Virginia Royals, Carolina Dynamo and the New Jersey Rangers, Reading United (2-0-0) can still match Ironbound’s 4-0-0 record if they win their next two matches.
The Express struck first in the 32nd minute when Express midfielder Kevin Meyer found space on the right wing and fired in a cross to the far post. John Sallhag found himself on the other end of that cross, volleying it past Ocean City goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi , who was making his 2010 debut.
The Nor’easters nearly tied it up before halftime when Kevin Curran played a through ball into Alex Weidman who dribbled in one-on-one with the Ironbound goalkeeper. Weidman, making his first PDL start, bent the ball around the keeper, but it struck the post and kept the visitors off the scoreboard.
The Express would strike back moments after Weidman hit the post as they raced up the right wing, and repeated the combination of the first goal. Meyer from the right wing found Sallhag in the box who volleyed the ball into the back of the net to double the lead. At halftime, Ocean City made changes to their lineup
The change helped light a spark in the offense, but the hosts would add another in the 66th minute. Former New York Red Bulls player Jerrod Laventure was fouled in the box by Max Hamilton, leading the referee to point to the spot. Laventure converted the penalty kick to make it 3-0.
Ocean City’s best chance to pull one back came in the 75th minute when Curran’s cross from the wing found the head of Carmichael, but the club’s all-time leading scorer was denied his first goal of the year by the cross bar.
Express GK Ryan Meara record his third shutout of the season in three starts.
The Express will wait to find out the result of Reading United’s next two games. If Reading fails to win at West Virginia on Thursday or at Carolina on Saturday, Ironbound will qualify for the Open Cup for the first time.
