Annapolis (Map, News) - With traffic concerns in and around Annapolis Friday, Crystal Palace USA’s first game at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium started 15 minutes late.

The offense, however, never got going in the club’s home-opening weekend.

Crystal Palace (0-3) was shutout both Friday and Saturday, and drew just 764 combined fans to the first two home games in club history.

“We have a lot to do,” Palace sporting director and co-coach Jim Cherneski said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Crystal Palace will go for its first win this Saturday evening, when they host the Richmond Kickers at 7 p.m. at the Germantown SoccerPlex.

Palace dropped Friday’s game, 4-0, to Cleveland City Stars and Saturday’s, 1-0, to the Cincinnati Kings.

Despite outshooting the opposition a combined 36-24 on the weekend, Crystal Palace could not find the net.

“The bottom line is that we’re creating many opportunities — which is oftentimes the most difficult thing. We’re creating great chances to score and we’re just not finishing,” Palace general manager/co-coach Pete Medd said. “It’s a shame because the score line Friday and the result Saturday night is not indicative of the play. We’re going to be working on finishing in training. The guys deserved the win [Saturday night].”

Palace has been out-scored 9-1 in three losses, but will get a boost Saturday with the likely return of Columbian forward Harold Urquijo.

“He will make a difference,” Medd said.

The Palace coaching staff used the words “bad” and “abysmal” to describe the team’s effort in Friday’s 4-0 loss before 486 fans. In particular, they were upset with the defense, which garnered much of the focus after a 4-1 loss to the Charlotte Eagles on April 20.

“We didn’t give up any set pieces, and that was specifically what was the issue from the last game,” Cherneski said. “But we were so bad on the transition, and their counterattacks were so dangerous, they could have won 7-0. Brian Rowland came up with two big saves.”

Rowland made four more Saturday as the defense tightened up in allowing just one goal — coming just three minutes shy of the end of regulation, as Cincinnati Kings’ Brett Jones beat Rowland in the 87th minute.

Comments from Examiner Readers

7:15 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "A new look at Palace"

Examiner Reader said:
Not after the two more games they play they will be in playoffs and be promoted to EPL!!! GO PALACE!!!

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6:12 AM MST on Fri., Apr. 25, 2008 re: "A new look at Palace"

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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