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Reading United booked a spot in the Premier Development League playoffs for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons with a convincing 5-0 win over Jersey Express on Saturday.
Forward Frantzdy Pierrot had his second hat trick of the season to lead Reading and the Coastal Carolina standout from Haiti now leads the team with seven. He also assisted on Jelani Pieters’ opening goal in the 12th minute. Marco Micaletto had assists on two of Pierrot’s goals, which all came in the first half. Ivan Abramovic tacked on a late goal off an assist from Evan Finnegan.
Alexandre Bouillennec made a pair of saves to record his second straight clean sheet and third of the season. As a team, Reading United has only conceded three goals over the last seven games and eight overall. Only FC Miami City has conceded fewer goals this year in the league with seven allowed.
Reading United now sit one point behind New York Red Bulls U23 in the Mid-Atlantic Division standings with two games to play, both on the road at Jersey Express on Wednesday and back at Lehigh Valley United on Saturday.
Ocean City Nor’easters 1 New York Red Bulls U23 1
Eliminated from playoff contention, Ocean City Nor’easters played the part of spoiler holding New York Red Bulls U23 to a 1-1 draw in Ocean City on Sunday. Zach Knudson put the visitors on top in the 32nd minute, but former Reading United forward Ismael Noumansana found an equalizer in the 75th minute off an assist from Frantzly Zephirin. Goalkeeper Todd Morton made three saves in the match while his counterpart Ben Lundgaard made two.
Ocean City Nor’easters 2 New England Revolution U23s 0
Birthday boy Akeil Barrett converted a penalty and assisted on a Fredlin Mompremier goal to seal a 2-0 win late in a friendly with New England Revolution U23 in Ocean City on Friday.
Lehigh Valley United 3 Evergreen FC 1
AJ Bishop, Jason Rocha and Kazari Trought all found the back of the net for Lehigh Valley in a 3-1 win on Saturday. Trought added an assist and Jordan Klyne and Armando Canela assisted on the other goals.
Reading United 2 Lehigh Valley United 0
Paul Marie and Jakov Basic both scored in the first half and Alexandre Bouillennec made three saves to preserve the clean sheet in Reading United’s win over Lehigh Valley on July 5. Philadelphia Union Academy grads Lamine Conte, Mo Conde and Kevin Carvalho were in the lineup for Reading while Garrett Keys started in goal for Lehigh Valley.