Reading United improves to 2-0-0; Ocean City and Lehigh Valley both fall in PDL play

Khori Bennett and Spencer Burkhardt scored a goal in each half and Bennett Strutz kept another clean sheet to lead Reading United to their second straight 2-0 win last weekend in northern Virginia.

Bennett opened the scoring two minutes in on a goal assisted by Alexander Lipinski and Burkhardt put the finishing touches on the win in the 66th minute on a shot that deflected off a defender and in. Defender Daniel Krutzen was credited with the assist on the goal.

Strutz made six saves in net to preserve the shutout against Virginia Hammers FC, which are listed on the PDL website as Evergreen FC. Philadelphia Union Academy grads Zach Zandi and Lamine Conte both started and played all 90 minutes of the match for the Philadelphia Union PDL affiliate.

With the win, Reading improved to 2-0-0 and are tied for first place in the Mid-Atlantic Division with the Long Island Rough Riders, which edged Ocean City Nor’easters 1-0 on a 61st minute strike from Charlie Ledula.

The loss was the first of the 2018 campaign for Ocean City, which won their PDL opener 2-1 over FA Euro New York and have won two road games in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Lehigh Valley United fell to 0-2-0 with a 2-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls U23 on the road.

Jordon Ellison scored an equalizer in the 49th minute but a late penalty kick awarded to the NYRB U23s was enough to lead the North Jersey side to a 2-1 win. Barakatulla Sharifi and Juan Sanchez scored the goals for the Red Bulls affiliate.