Reading United wins but finishes in second place; Ocean City and Lehigh Valley seasons end

Reading United ended its 2017 Premier Development League season on Saturday the same way it started with a win over local rival Lehigh Valley United.

Despite playing up a man from the 13th minute on after Philadelphia Union Academy grad Cameron Keys was sent off for handling the ball outside the penalty area, Reading United didn’t find the back of the net until the 75th minute.

Forward Frantzdy Pierrot, who drew the red when the LVU goalkeeper was trying to stop him on a breakaway, scored the game-winner for his ninth of the season and 11th in all competitions. Tapfuma DiMairo had the assist.

Alex Bouillennec and Justin Saliba each played a half in goal to lead Reading to its seventh shutout of the season and cap a season with just 10 goals conceded in 14 games. Four of those goals, it should be noted, were scored by New York Red Bulls U23, which finished a point ahead of Reading in the standings.

Reading finished the season with a 12-2-0 record and 36 points, which was good enough for third best record in the league (behind Red Bulls U23 and OKC Energy U23 both tied with 37 points), but will still have to begin the playoffs on the road at Seacoast United Phantoms in Massachusetts on Tuesday night.

Ocean City Nor’easters 3 D.C. United U23s 3
The Nor’easters closed out their 2017 season with a 3-3 draw in a friendly against the D.C. United U23s in Ocean City. Ismael Noumansana had a brace and Francisco Neto added a goal. Elijah Agu had a brace and Everson scored the equalizer in stoppage time for the visitors. Ocean City finished the season in third place with a 9-4-1 league record and 11-4-3 in all competitions with an 8-0-3 record at home overall.

Ocean City Nor’easters 5 Lehigh Valley United 0
Ocean City closed out their PDL campaign on July 12 with a lopsided victory over Lehigh Valley. Fredlin Mompremier scored in the first half less than 10 minutes in and the flood gates opened in the second half. Ismael Noumansana had a brace and Francisco Neto and Ignacio Tellechio added goals in the second half. Philadelphia Union Academy grad John Schroeder had an assist and Mompremier had a pair of assists. Todd Morton made a pair of saves to record the clean sheet. With the loss, Lehigh Valley finished the season 4-9-1, in sixth place in the Mid-Atlantic Division.