Ewing, New Jersey – The PDL Piranhas played the second half of their two-game New Jersey road trip Friday night, meeting the Central Jersey Spartans at Lion Stadium for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
The Piranhas had very little possession in the game, preferring to play long ball - perhaps showing effects of the heat and having played Thursday night but the team was able to stay even with the Spartans through the first 27 minutes. In the 28th minute, Central Jersey midfielder Bryan Martinez was fouled by Piranhas midfielder Dauda Duomande, who received a yellow card for the takedown. Spartan midfielder Ryan Kinne took the free kick which hit the crossbar where Martinez was able to collect it and he beat Piranhas’ keeper Ryan Zmuda to put the Spartans up 1-0. The half ended with the Piranhas down one even though Central Jersey outshot the squad 7-4.
Things seemed to change the first minute of the second half in the Piranhas’ favor. Piranhas’ midfielder Austin Knight took aim at the goal from 28-yards out and sent a rocket past Spartans’ keeper Zach Carr into the right top corner of the net to tie the match 1-1. And four minutes later Hampton Roads forward Mamadou Kone was taken down from behind by Spartans defender Josh Walburn who was ejected from the match, forcing Central Jersey to complete the match a man down. The resulting Piranhas’ free kick hit the crossbar. And it went downhill for the red and white from there.
The first Central New Jersey player to score a shorthanded goal was Ryan Kinney followed by two from second half substitute Jose Angulo. The match ended 4-1 for New Jersey even though the Piranhas played the last 40 minutes of the match up a man.
The Piranhas will look to regroup before next weekend’s match against Carolina on Saturday, June 12, again on the road. The team will return to the Sportsplex on June 19, when they again will play Central Jersey. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary 1 2 FT
Hampton Roads 0 1 1
Central Jersey 1 3 4
Central Jersey: Bryan Martinez 28 (Unassisted)
Hampton Roads: Austin Knight 46 (Unassisted)
Central Jersey: Ryan Clark 56 (Nelson Becerra)
Central Jersey: Jose Angulo 67 (Nelson Becerra)
Central Jersey: Jose Angulo 88 (John Stamatis)
Starting Lineups:
Hampton Roads: Ryan Zmuda, Wilver Menacho (Robert Acosta 79), Tommy Webb, TJ Cyrus, Devin Pierce (Renato Barbosa 25), Ari Dimas, Dauda Diomande (Brian Iotte 46), Austin Knight, Thomas Schmitt, Tom Van Dyck (Cody Merkes 73), Mamadou Kone
Central Jersey: Zach Carr, Ben Burton, Josh Walburn, Chris Christian, Mark Wiltse, Jerry Saintil (Calvin Crooks 46), Bryan Martinez (Nelson Becerra 46), Ryan Kinne (John Stamatis 67), Ryan Clark, Ryan Finley (Jose Angulo 60), Antoine Hoppernot
Game Statistics:
Shots: HRP 10, CJS 13; Saves: HRP 3, CJS 6; Fouls: HRP 17, CJS 12; Offsides: HRP 6, CJS 4; Corners: HRP 1, CJS 9; Cautions: Hampton Roads (Dauda Diomonde 27), Central Jersey (Calvin Crooks 69); Ejections: Central Jersey (Josh Walburn 50); Officials: Derek Rose, Michael Deering, John Prusick; Attendance 70; Weather: Hot, humid.
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