June 25, 2010
FURIOUS COMEBACK
Down two, Nor’Easters draw 2-2

READING, Pa---The Ocean City Nor’ Easters rebounded from a 2-0 halftime deficit to tie Reading United 2-2 at Don Thomas Stadium Friday night. The Nor’Easters are unbeaten in their last four games.

Reading took the lead in the 34th minute. Luke Mulholland took a corner kick that found the head of Eric Detzel, who redirected it into the net.

Seven minutes after scoring their first goal, Reading added another. Mulholland booted the ball up the mid-field to CJ Sapong, who out-ran and out-hustled his way past a Nor’easters defender. Sapong, James Madison University’s goal scoring leader, found the back of the net with his shot to the upper left-hand corner, making it 2-0.

After a quick throw-in by Ryan Richter, Ocean City finally found the goal they were looking for in the 76th minute. John Fletcher received a leading bounce from the throw and shot high at goal, just above the reach of goalkeeper Jeremy Vuolo.

With nine minutes left in regulation, the Nor’easters evened the score, 2-2. After chaos in the box, the ball was finally kicked out of bounds by a United player, giving Ocean City an opportunity to score off a corner kick. The ball landed around the 18 yard line and former Reading player Kevin Strunk was there to drill a low hard shot to the left-back of the net to tie the game, 2-2.

Both teams created plenty of chances in a wide-open game, giving plenty of work to the goalkeepers, with Reading outshooting Ocean City 24-7.

Richter got the action started early, sending a header right at Vuolo in the first minute of the game.

In the 14th minute, Sapong tried to sneak one in from 18 yards, but shot the ball but directly at Ocean City goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi.

Ocean City came out strong in the second half, with Glenroy Chapman finding Richter open near the penalty spot, but his shot hit off the top of the bar.
Reading had a chance to go ahead in the closing minutes, after Wegner was tripped outside the 18 on a breakaway. Stephan Hogan took the free kick and landed the ball near the right post. Jack Reid dove to score, but the ball was knocked away by Ogunbiyi.

With time running out there were still further chances for the Nor'easters to complete a remarkable comeback. The most notable chance fell to Junior Chapman, who went through 1 on 1 in the 90th minute, only to be denied by Vuolo.