Clarkstown exits Open Cup with a 1-0 loss to Reading

Clarkstown Eagles and Reading United players alongside the referees before their Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup game. Photo by Bill Linder

Game Report 

Reading United edged Clarkstown Eagles 1-0 at Exeter Township Senior High School, eliminating them in the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S Open Cup.

Haiti international player Frantzdy Pierrot netted United’s goal as he headed the rebound of his own penalty in the net.

Reading advances to the second round of the Open Cup for the sixth consecutive year—an Open Cup record—in which they will face the New York Cosmos. Meanwhile this loss marks the Eagles’ second straight exit in the first round in their first two appearances.

Former League of Ireland player Stephen Roche had a glorious opportunity to put Clarkstown up top 15 minutes into the game. Reading’s back four left Roche alone in the box but the midfielder was unable to take full advantage of the opportunity as he blasted a shot over the net.

United dominated the match in the remaining of the second half. They tested Clarkstown keeper Roberto Pellegrini in the 39^th minute but he was up to the task. Hugo Delhommelle found Khori Bennett in the box, who steered a low-shot on frame but Pellegrini was well positioned to make the save.

Pellegrini prevented the PDL side from taking the lead again at the stroke of the first half when Paul Marie controlled a giveaway from Roche before charging in the Eagles’ defensive third to take a shot. Pellegrini kept his side in the game again with a block.

Reading was rewarded a penalty in the eighth minute of added time in the first half as Pellegrini fouled Pierrot in the box. Pellegrini saved Pierrot’s spot pick, diving on his left but spilled the ball. The Haitian headed his own rebound in the net.

Clarkstown came out better in the second half as they had more possession of the ball. And to their advantage, Reading player Aaron Molloy was issued a red card in the 76^th minute for picking up a second yellow.  

The Eagles hit a multitude of long balls in Reading’s defense in search of an equalizer but the home side’s back four stayed compact to prevent them from scoring.

Players' voice

Right back Ethan Evans was disheartened after his side lost through a penalty for the second consecutive time in the Open Cup.

“It’s rough because last year we lost 2-1—two penalties—to Jersey express,” Evans said. “We didn’t have a lot of our players cleared and I felt like this year we played much better but we also played a much stronger team on the road and that definitely came back to haunt us.”

“It’s terrible,” the defender later said about conceding three spot kicks in two games in the Open Cup. “But at the end of the day that’s part of the game. My highest highs and my lowest lows in my life have all come on a soccer field and sometimes that just what the game does to you.”

However Evans was thrilled that he competed in the Open Cup after battling injuries. “It hurts but at the same time for a player like myself, I’ve had four soccer related surgeries, to come back and get a chance to play in the Open Cup for the first time at age 26 is pretty awesome” he said. “Hopefully we can keep building on that for NPSL.”

Regardless of the loss Evans is overjoyed with the experience his team received from playing in the Open Cup.

“This is the kind of experience that you can only dream of to get ready to play for NPSL,” the former St. Thomas Aquinas College player said. 

“For example we had a 16-year-old, Esad Mackic, come on. He got experience, his first cap in the U.S Open Cup. That’s the kind of stuff that you only hear with players like Wayne Rooney coming on and playing for Everton. The experience that he’s going to build there and some of our newer players, who’s just getting used to us, is huge.”

Clarkstown added numerous players to their roster from last year, Evans noted that the team lacked chemistry.

“Obviously the chemistry wasn’t there but the talent is there,” the 26-year-old said. “We know there’s players with a lot of ability in our squad but we need to learn how to play together. That’s part of the reason why we had a little bit of trouble on counter attacks and keeping the ball but defensively I thought we looked alright. We all worked hard.”

Three key notes

1. Get’ em youngblood: 16-year-old Esad Mackic made his U.S Open Cup dayview as he subbed in the game in the 52^nd minute. Mackic is the third youngest player who played in the Open Cup since 1996 at 16 years old, 11 months and 10 days.

2. Out through PKs again: the Eagles also lost in first round last year through penalties as Jersey Express netted two spot kicks to defeat them 2-1. All the three goals Clarkstown conceded in the Open Cup have come from the spot.

3. Eagles finished the game without their captain: captain Andreas Chronis was subbed out in the 82^nd minute after pulling his hamstring.