Reading United hands Red Bulls U23 their first loss; Lehigh Valley beats Ocean City

New York Red Bulls U23 are undefeated no more after Reading United took down the Mid-Atlantic Division leaders in a comeback win at home on Friday night.

After a scoreless first half, midfielder Brian White put the Red Bulls up with his 10th goal of the season in the 69th minute. Substitute Marco Micaletto started the rally for Reading with an equalizer in the 83rd minute off an assist from Jelani Pieters. Six minutes later, a 30-yard strike from Aaron Molloy sealed the victory. The goal was the third of the season for Molloy.

The win was a huge one for Reading, which still trail Red Bulls by six points in the standings but have two games in hand on the division leaders and three games in hand on second place Ocean City, which is three points behind the leaders. The top two teams make the playoffs.

Reading Lineup: Alexandre Bouillennec, Nathan Brown, Lamine Conte, Mohamed Conde (82’ Neico Regent), Robert Campbell, Aaron Molloy, Hugo Delhommelle (81’ Marco Micaletto), Mo Adams (74’ Jorge Guinovart), Pierre Reedy (75’ Evan Finnegan), Paul Marie (75’ Jelani Pieters), Frantzdy Pierrot

Ocean City 2 Evergreen FC 1
The Nor’easters got back to their winning ways with a 2-1 win on the road over Evergreen FC on Saturday, thanks to a brace from Fredlin Mompremier.

Mompremier opened the scoring with a tap-in goal off Ismael Noumansana’s fourth assist of the season in the 29th minute and after conceding a 37th minute equalizer “Fredinho” restored the Ocean City lead when he was taken down in the box and converted from the penalty spot with his fourth of the season.

Todd Morton made six saves in the winning effort for Ocean City, which completed the three-game sweep of Evergreen FC for the season and extended its record to 11-0-1 all-time against the Virginia club.

Ocean City Lineup: Todd Morton, John Schroeder (87’ Nicholas Hanuscin), Nikola Fimic, Daniel Kozma, Fraser Colmer, Max Hemmings, Nicolas Spielman, Tyler Collishaw (80’ Daniel Brandt), Ignacio Tellechea (82’ Francisco Neto), Fredlin Mompremier (71’ Akeil Barrett), Ismael Noumansana (75’ Robert Gillin)

Lehigh Valley United 2 FA Euro New York 3
Lehigh Valley’s bid for a third straight win came up short in a 3-2 loss at St. John’s University on Saturday. Mark Forrest and Seiji Rose both scored but it wasn’t enough for the visitors to pull out a result.

LVU Lineup: Cameron Keys, Jordan Kleyn, Seiji Rose, Emiliano Fama, Jonathan Hellmer Miranda, Mark Forrest, Andrew Bishop, Colin Muller (45’ Jordan Poarch), Benjamin Roda (45’ Chad Poarch), Armando Canela (45’ Garrett Keys), Kazari Trought (45’ Jordon Ellison)

Lehigh Valley United 2 Ocean City Nor’easters 1
Jordan Poarch and Seiji Rose scored goals six minutes apart early in the second half and Lehigh Valley United overcame a Fredlin Mompremier goal and a late surge from Ocean City in a 2-1 win last Wednesday.

Poarch chipped the keeper for his second goal of the season in the 48th minute off an assist from Mark Forrest and six minutes later Rose scored on a curling free kick.

Philadelphia Union Academy grad Cameron Keys made six saves in the winning effort for Lehigh Valley.

OC Lineup: Todd Morton, Fraser Colmer, Nikola Fimic (90’+1 Nick Hanuscin), Daniel Kozma, Akeil Barrett (58’ John Schroeder), Francisco Neto (62’ Stephen Elias), Daniel Nimmo, Nicolas Spielman (81’ Robert Gillin), Tyler Collishaw, Fredlin Mompremier, Ismael Noumansana

LVU Lineup: Cameron Keys, Garrett Keys, Keelby Espinola, Seiji Rose, Jonathan Hellmer Miranda, Jordan Poarch, Jordon Ellison, Andrew Bishop, Mark Forrest, Chad Poarch, Colin Muller Subs: Leon Maric, Mickey George, Jordan Kleyn, Emiliano Fama, Benjamin Roda, Kazari Trought