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Crystal Palace take DeOrsey Cup with controversial win over Real Maryland

31 Jul, 2008

Crystal Palace FC USA nearly gave up a two goal lead in injury time to a gutsy Real Maryland in stoppage time Thursday night, but held on for a 3-2 win - with a little help from the referees. The controversial win secured the inaugural DeOrsey Cup for the second-year US club that is a direct extension of their 103-year old namesake in London, England.


Crystal Palace team celebrates DeOrsey Cup win (courtesy Crystal Palace)

Palace held a 3-1 lead as the full ninety minutes expired and the fourth official added four minutes of stoppage time.  The visitors took advantage of Palace’s faltering concentration, pulling to within one in the second minute of added time through Nilson Perez. 

Shortly after, Real Maryland thought they had tied the game in the 93rd minute when they put the ball in the back of the net after a horrendous back-pass from Matthew Mbuta, but the play was erroneously called offside by both the assistant referee and referee, causing chaotic scenes involving players, officials and coaches that lasted more than five minutes.
 
Palace took the lead in the 33rd minute as Pat Healey released Larry Mark on the right wing.  From the byline, Mark found Matthew Mbuta 12 yards out and he made no mistake with a fine low shot.  The second half saw Palace continue to create chances, but they weren’t able to find the finishing touch.
 
On 77 minutes, Palace center-back Andrew Marshall was called for a foul just outside the box.  Victor Ramirez stepped up and found a gap in the wall and suddenly Real Maryland were back in the game.  But Real’s lead was short lived.  Late substitute David Feazell pounced on some sloppy Real Maryland defending in the 79th minute to restore Palace’s advantage and seven minutes later, Mike Lookingland curled a right-footed shot into the top right corner from 18 yards to give Palace what they expected was an unassailable lead.
 
After Real Maryland’s stoppage time heroics and the erroneous call by the officials, the final whistle blew and Palace had escaped with all three points.  The victory clinched the inaugural DeOrsey Maryland Cup for Palace, running out 5-3 winners over the two game season series.

Palace’s next game is at 5:30pm on Sunday August 3rd against the Bermuda Hogges at Poly-Western High School in Baltimore.

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