The Ocean City Nor’easters (7-1-3) clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2016 Tuesday night with a 5-2 win over Reading United AC (3-6-3) at Berks Catholic High School in Reading, PA. Ocean City must win all their remaining games for a chance to win the Mid-Atlantic Division title.
Ocean City pressured Reading United AC’s defense early in the first half with Neville Morgan, Theo Quartey, and Tel Segev taking shots. In the 26th minute, Ocean City went up 1-0 when Anthony Herbert scored on a header with an assist from Kasper Skraep.
Kyle Galloway extended the Nor’easters lead 2-0 at the 35th-minute mark with a bullet shot into the back of the net. Tyler Watson assisted Galloway’s goal. Ocean City led 2-0 at halftime.
In the 57th minute, Reading United AC’s Jake Gosselin scored with an assist from Zeke Zambrano that cut Ocean City’s lead to 2-1. The Nor’easters got the goal back in the 62nd minute after Alex Andersson created a turnover, then sent the ball Simon Becher’s way with a curling shot to the bottom corner for his ninth goal of the season 3-1.
In the 74th minute, Austin DaSilva continued his hot streak with a goal, extending Ocean City’s lead 4-1 with an assist from Kyle Galloway. DaSilva now has four goals in the last two games.
Reading United AC cut the Nor’easters lead in half 4-2 on a goal from T-Ben Donnie with an assist from Marcus Brenes in the 75th minute.
Five minutes later on a throw-in by Austin DaSilva, MD Meyers scored from inside the box for a 5-2 lead. Reading United AC made one last attempt to add a goal from Alex Hajj, but Nor’easters goalkeeper Owen Elliot stopped his shot. Ocean City defeated Reading United AC 5-2 to improve their record to 8-1-3 and have won three straight games.
Ocean City finished the night with fourteen shots, five goals, and four assists. The Nor’easters now trail West Chester United SC by five points heading into their matchup for the final home game of the season at Carey Stadium on Friday, July 9th, at 7:30 pm.
