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June 29, 2010
DANNY DOES ‘EM IN
Ex-Red Bull Cepero post Open Cup shutout
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Danny Cepero made eight saves to help the Harrisburg City Islanders oust the Red Bulls from the U.S. Open Cup.
Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images |
HARRISBURG, PA---Former New York Red Bulls goalkeeper Danny Cepero came back to haunt his former club, posting an overtime shutout in the Harrisburg City Islanders’ 1-0 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup win Tuesday night at Skyline Sports Complex.
Substitute Dominic Oppong tallied the game-winner in the 117th minute to give the hosts the win. Harrisburg advanced to the quarterfinals to face the victor of the D.C. United-Richmond Kickers game Wednesday evening.
Cepero had one of his best games of the season for the Islanders, tallying eight saves
Early on, New York looked to control the game, as midfielder Brian Nielsen tried a long range strike five minutes in that was caught by Cepero. In the 16th minute, City Islanders forward Geoff Bloes got free in the penalty box and headed a Jason Hotchkin delivery right at goalkeeper Greg Sutton.
On the other end, the Red Bulls had the best chance of the half to go ahead in the 22nd minute. After a New York free kick, the ball was swung in again and deflected by forward John Wolyniec to Mike Petke, whose volley on frame from 12 yards out was tipped away by Cepero. Four minutes later, Nielsen one-timed a 16-yard shot at Cepero.
The City Islanders tested Sutton four minutes into the second half, as Bloes was able to get space off a counterattack and slid a shot towards the left post that the goalkeeper went down to haul in. Five minutes later, Conor Chinn flicked Nielsen’s cross to Irving Garcia, whose volley was caught by a diving Cepero.
The teams kept exchanging chances later in the period, with Sheanon Williams getting free from six yards and nodding a J.T. Noone cross just past the left post. Soon after, Chinn muscled past his defender into the box and found Wolyniec, who turned and shot it into the side netting. Williams later had a step on the Red Bulls’ defense, but his ensuing attempt went straight to Sutton.
With 20 minutes left in full time, Chinn forced Cepero into another acrobatic save after he first-timed a feed from Wolyniec, who made a darting run to the endline. Bloes had an additional chance on net three minutes after, getting some space on the right side of the penalty box and putting it past the left post.
The hosts had the best chance during the first 15 minutes of extra time. After defender Roy Miller cleared, the ball went straight to substitute Vince Petrasso, whose one-time shot beat Sutton but slammed off the right post.
Oppong scored the eventual game-winner with three minutes left in the game. After Sutton went to block a shot, the rebound fell to Bloes, who forced the goalkeeper to push it away. The ball eventually came out to an open Oppong and he blasted it into the back of the net.
New York Red Bulls – Greg Sutton (GK), Luke Sassano, Mike Petke, Andrew Boyens, Roy Miller, Irving Garcia (Austin da Luz 76’), Jeremy Hall, Brian Nielsen (Tim Ream 80’), Juan Agudelo (Tony Tchani 66’), Conor Chinn, John Wolyniec
Harrisburg City Islanders – Danny Cepero (GK), Tyler Ruthven, Dustin Bixler, Jerritt Thayer, Anthony Calvano, Jason Pelletier, J.T. Noone, Nate Jafta (Vince Petrasso 65’), Jason Hotchkin (Dominic Oppong 80’), Geoff Bloes, Sheanon Williams (Kai Kasiguran 101’)
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