May 19, 2010
NO OPEN CUP
Nor’Easters fall to Ironbound, eliminated

NEWARK, NJ---The Ocean City Nor'easters hopes of returning to the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup came crashing down two games into the season as they lost 3-0 to the Ironbound Express on Wednesday night. With the loss, the Express finish Open Cup qualifying with a perfect 4-0-0 record and since Ocean City has one point with two games to play, they cannot overtake their rivals to the north.

The hosts struck first in the 32nd minute when Express midfielder Kevin Meyer found space on the right wing and fired in a cross to the far post. John Sallhag found himself on the other end of that cross, volleying it past Ocean City goalkeeper Tunde Ogunbiyi, who was making his 2010 debut.

Just before the end of the first half, the Express doubled the league when Meyer from the right wing found Sallhag in the box who volleyed the ball into the back of the net.

Former New York Red Bulls player Jerrod Laventure was fouled in the box by Max Hamilton, leading the referee to point to the spot. Laventure converted the penalty kick to make it 3-0 in the 66th minute..

The Nor'easters had several chances. They nearly tied it up before the half, but a shot by Alex Weidman hit the post.

Ocean City's best chance to pull one back came in the 75th minute when Curran's cross from the wing found the head of Carmichael, but the club's all-time leading scorer was denied his first goal of the year by the cross bar.

The perfect record does not assure the Express a spot in the tournament. While their win eliminates Ocean City, Northern Virginia Royals, Carolina Dynamo and the New Jersey Rangers, Reading United (2-0-0) can still match Ironbound's 4-0-0 record if they win their next two matches.

The Express will wait to find out the result of Reading United's next two games. If Reading fails to win at West Virginia on Thursday or at Carolina on Saturday, Ironbound will qualify for the Open Cup for the first time.