Cleveland City Stars are the Professional United Soccer Leagues

Saturday August 8, 2009

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland City Stars fell 2-0 at the Carolina RailHawks despite a strong team effort behind the second straight start from rookie goalkeeper Evan Bush. The match was a deadlock until Cleveland went a man down in the 76th minute after a red card to Alioune Gueye.

Bush finished with seven saves a week after being named to the USL-1 Team of the Week for Cleveland (2-13-7). Gregory Richardson and Daniel Paladini eventually scored for the host RailHawks (13-5-3) to move Carolina into first place.

The first half saw many chances for the RailHawks but Bush did his part in keeping the City Stars in the match.

In the 19th minute former City Stars forward Sallieu Bundu lofted a left footed shot from the top of the 18-yard box but the shot missed the upper-90 and flew out of bounds.

In the 25th minute Brian Plotkin stepped into a shot from the center of the pitch from 25-yards out. Plotkin's hard drive looked to be on target but Bush made a late dive and knocked the ball out of bounds with a left handed punch.

Off the restart, Carolina had another chance inside the box in the 27th minute. After a deflection, Amir Lowry got a flick on the ball and sent it towards the net from close distance but Bush slapped the ball into the air with a quick reflex and made an athletic move to out-jump the RailHawks to secure the save.

In the 30th minute Joseph Kwabe's shot was blocked by Troy Roberts. The deflection bounced into the path of Bundu who fired a shot into the charging Bush. The Cleveland keeper was able to smother the shot but the ball rolled back into play. An off balance Bundu tracked down the lose ball and sent it towards the open net but Roberts rushed to the goal line to cover for Bush and clear the ball.

The City Stars made a run in the 33rd minute. Jason Hotchkin received the ball near midfield and played a perfectly placed back heal pass to Anthony Stovall who controlled and pushed up the left sideline. As Stovall neared the box he crossed back into Hotchkin who controlled in stride and fired a shot directly into the awaiting arms of Carolina keeper Eric Reed.

In the 43rd minute Gregory Richardson received a perfect pass from Plotkin that created a one-on-one opportunity with Bush. Richardson attempted to chip the ball over the head of Bush but the keeper jumped and punched the ball over the net for the save.

In the 44th minute the City Stars countered with a chance as Ryan Stewart created in the midfield and found an opening from 25-yards out but Stewart's shot was high and sailed over the net to keep the match scoreless heading into halftime.

In the 60th minute former City Stars forward Sallieu Bundu sent a through ball to Luke Kreamalmeyer but Bush was able to come off his line and win the ball.

In the 69th minute Josh Gardner played a one-touch into the box towards a diving Andre Budnyy but Bush charged into the path of the ball and punched the ball out of the box.

The City Stars went a man down in the 76th minute when Gueye was sent off with an instant red for a hard tackle in the midfield.

The RailHawks took advantage of the extra man in the 79th minute after another save from Bush. Budnyy started the play after he received a pass inside the box and drew the keeper off his line before getting off a shot attempt. Bush was able to slide to the ground in time to save the attempt but the redirect fell into the path of Richardson. Richardson gathered and shot towards the far post and with Bush not yet back into position, the shot skipped off the keepers hand and into the net for a 1-0 Carolina lead.

Carolina put the game out of reach in the 90th minute when Richardson got off another shot. This time it was Richardson that had his shot blocked by another save from Bush but again Bush was unable to hold onto the ball and Paladini was there to knock the ball into the open net for the final 2-0 decision.

The City Stars travel to Charleston next to take on the Battery Tuesday August 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Lineups:

Cleveland: GK Evan Bush, D Troy Roberts, D Anthony Stovall, D Warren Kanu (Kolby Lacrone 87'), D Ibrahim Kante, M Alioune Gueye, M Pato Aguilera, M Ryan Stewart, M Leo Gibson (Israel Sesay 75'), M Jason Hotchkin (Arsene Oka 63'), F Ricardo Pierre-Louis (Teteh Bangura)

Carolina: GK Eric Reed, D Kupuno Low (John Gilkerson 75'), D Jeremy Tolleson, D Greg Shields, D Mark Schulte, M Luke Kreamalmeyer (Josh Gordon 61'), M Brian Plotkin, M Joseph Kabwe (Daniel Paladin 61') M Amir Lowery, F Sallieu Bundu (Andre Budnyy 64'), F Gregory Richardson

Summary:

Car: Gregory Richardson 82', Daniel Paladini 90'

Cautions:

Cle: Ryan Stewart 87'

Car: Brian Plotkin 37', Greg Shields 45', Kapuno Low 74', Andre Budnyy 84'

Ejections:

Cle: Alioune Gueye 76'

Attendance: 1,850