USL Official Match Information

Crystal Palace came into tonight’s match with the slimmest of chances to qualify for the playoffs. They had to not only win their last three games, but Harrisburg had to lose all four of theirs. In addition, the Eagles also had to make up a 14 goal deficit in goal differential.

Palace kept up their end of the bargain with a resounding 8-1 defeat of the visiting Bermuda Hogges at Navy Marine Corps Stadium, making up half their goal deficit in one match. However, with Harrisburg’s 2-1 defeat of Richmond, the Eagle’s playoff dream is now over.

Andrew Marshall started the proceedings when he threaded a 40 yard pass to Matthew Mbuta who broke between two defenders and shot over the diving Timmy Figuerido to put Palace one up in the 15 th minute. In the 31 st minute Gary Brooks passed the ball to Sergio Flores breaking down the right wing. Flores beat the keeper from 12 yards to put Palace up 2-nil. Two minutes later, Palace scored their third goal as Gary Brooks chipped over the Bermuda Keeper from 8 yards out after receiving a cross from Andrew Marshall. In the 35 th minute Palace struck again when Sergio Flores passed down the right to Matthew Mbuta who broke toward the goal and looped the ball into the far left corner of the net to set the tally at 4-nil Palace.

One minute later Bermuda got on the score sheet as Ralph Bean passed the ball to Damon Ming in the box, Ming slid the ball under a diving Brian Rowland to make the score 4-1.

In the 44 th Minute Sergio Flores completed the greatest half of scoring in Crystal Palace USA history when he beat the Bermuda keeper from the left side of the goal after a fine cross from Josh Alcala found him about ten yards from goal.

In the 48 th minute the goal onslaught continued as Gary Brooks took a long pass from Bryan Harkin on the left wing, dribbled along the goal line and slammed the ball past a diving Timmy Figuerido for Palace’s sixth goal on the evening. Andrew Herman broke down the left side after a pass by Sean Rush, Herman angled to the middle and slotted the ball through the five hole to beat the Bermuda keeper for the his first goal of the season to become the 11 th person to score for Palace this season and make the score 7-1.

In the 80 th minute Bryan Harkin became the 12 th player for Crystal Palace to score this season when he tallied number eight on the night for Palace. Sergio Flores picked up the assist as the scoring concluded on the evening.

Bermuda 1 (1), Crystal Palace 8 (5)

Scoring Summary : CPB Mbuta (Marshall) 15 , CPB Flores (Brooks) 31 , CPB Brooks (Marshall) 33 , CPB Mbuta (Flores) 36 , BER Ming (Bean) 37 , CPB Flores (Alcala) 44 , CPB Brooks (Harkin) 48 , CPB Herman (Rush) 69 , CPB Harkin (Flores) 80

Cautions : CPB Harkin 80, CPB Harada 87, Ejections :

Shots : BER 14, CPB 21

Fouls : BER 6, CPB 8

Saves : BER 5, CPB 4

Corners : BER 1, CPB 1

Offside : BER 3, CPB 6

Lineups : Bermuda - Figureido, Wilson(Dill 71), Scott(Peniston 10), Zuill(Hill 45), Ming, Shakir, Bean, Steede, Parsons(Cox 45), Bgaeu, Richards

Crystal Palace - Rowland, Ughiovhe, Marshall(Fucci 45), Harkin, Urquijo(Capecci 56), Flores, Mbuta(Rush 56), dos Anjos, Alcala, Brooks(Herman 62), Harada

A:524.

Officials: Dan Lucash, Jason Blight, Sam Elbary, John White.