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BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Crystal Palace co-manager Pete Medd joked before his team’s U.S. Open Cup second round game against the Harrisburg City Islanders his team had been practicing penalty kicks in case the game went to a decisive shootout.
It was a good thing he did.
With the score tied, 2-2, after 120 minutes, Palace got successful kicks from Ibrahim Kante, Pat Healey and Val Teixeira and three saves from goalie Matt Nelson to leave Pennsylvania with the 3-1 win.
Up next for the second-year franchise?
The biggest game —by far — in the team's young existence: a third-round matchup with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls. The Red Bulls are one of eight MLS teams to qualify for the largest soccer tournament in the United States which is open to professional and amateur teams. The game is set for July 1, at a time to be announced at either UMBC Stadium or Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
"We are looking for that game to mean almost a relaunching of our band here and introducing media and fans that haven’t been following us to wake up and say ‘We have a pretty cool thing in our backyard and we need to support it,’” Crystal Palace Co-Manager Pete Medd said. "From a business perspective, thinking about the health of the franchise, we get this opportunity every year to compete to bring MLS teams to Baltimore and hopefully the city can get behind us as their pro soccer team.”
Crystal Palace (6-3-1) and Harrisburg (4-1-6), play in the United Soccer League's Second Division, what could be compared to Double-A baseball. The Red Bulls, playing in the MLS, the U.S.’s highest professional soccer league, are 5-4-4 in the extremely competitive Eastern Conference.
But Palace’s journey to play the Red Bulls was far from easy.
The team first made a cross-country trip to beat USL Premier Development League’s Los Angeles Legends, 2-1, behind a pair of goals from Healey, a former Towson standout, who was named the Outstanding Player of the tournament's opening round. On Tuesday night in Pennsylvania, Palace avenged a 1-0 loss during league play earlier this season against the City Islanders. Palace’s win was a physical one, as it featured 43 fouls — 27 on Palace — and three red cards, with Medd and midfielder Kevin King, who opened the scoring for the visitors, getting ejected.
But all that mattered to Palace’s players was getting a chance to play New York.
“It gives the players and coaches a chance to see where we stand as pros and obviously playing an MLS team is the highest level of soccer in the US,” Crystal Palace defenseman Mike Lookingland said. "To go against a top team in the county is something to look forward too.”
dcarey@baltimoreexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
1:50 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 27, 2008 re: "Palace upends defending champs, prepares for first-place Eagles"
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3:11 PM MST on Tue., Jul. 8, 2008
re: "Palace eyes to stop MLS’s Revolution"
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2:02 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008
re: "Palace ready to run with Bulls"
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7:15 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008
re: "A new look at Palace"
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6:12 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008
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Attila the Hon said:
Crystal Palace Baltimore actually played the Charlotte Eagles last night. Unfortunately they lost 3-0. Don't worry. The Baltimores already clinched a playoff berth! GO PALACE!
8 agree | 7 disagree
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Attila the Hon said:
There was absolutely no articles about Crystal Palace Baltimore in today's Sun. The Examiner wins again & it wasn't even close. GO PALACE! UPSET NEW ENGLAND!
12 agree | 11 disagree
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Attila the Hon said:
All articles about Crystal Palace Baltimore in the Examiner are outstanding. Little wonder why The Sun, who continues to ignore them, is losing readers rapidly. Keep the coverage flowing! Even though next Tuesday's match is in Annapolis, here's hoping Palace pulls off the upset in front of a SELLOUT crowd. GO PALACE! UPSET NEW YORK!
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Examiner Reader said:
Not after the two more games they play they will be in playoffs and be promoted to EPL!!! GO PALACE!!!
24 agree | 23 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Crystal Palace isn't in the EPL. They are in the League Championship, which is one level below.
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