RailHawks galacticos Paladini and Richardson outshine City Stars
Gregory Richardson on the move (photo by Rich Bostwick)
Joe Schwartz, the newest staff reporter at the Independent Weekly, attended Saturday night’s game and filed this report:
WAKEMED SOCCER PARK/ CARY-I hate to admit it, but I’m one avid Triangle-based soccer loon who hadn’t made my way out to a Carolina RailHawks game until Saturday night. It seems I’ve spent more time monitoring the comings and goings of the Barclays English Premiership in the offseason than taking in United Soccer League action in my backyard.
So, when a colleague and I set sail for WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, I had a boatload of questions. Key among them was, “What’s the biggest difference between the quality of play at this level compared to the MLS or European football (yes, football)?”
“The finishing,” he responded. For about 80 minutes he couldn’t have been more spot on as the first-place RailHawks (15-3-5) and the last place Cleveland City Stars (2-13-7) created chances but scuffed and flubbed shots wide left and right, and even chipped one ball into the parking lot.
Enter former Chivas USA and Los Angeles Galaxy-man Daniel Paladini in the contest’s 62nd minute and all that changes. Moving the ball with pace and intent not seen until he took the field along with brother-in-law and new father Josh Gardner, Paladini gave life to the match and created the turning point when he was greeted with a strong tackle by midfielder Alioiune Gueye.
“When he hit me, it was just a clip, but I had so much momentum that I made it look bad,” said Paladini, whose theatrics earned Gueye a red card in the 76th minute. “I heard the ref blow the whistle so fast that I knew I made it look worse than it was. But that’s part of the game. You’ve got to do that sometimes.” Continue reading »
