Brown dazzles, Hertzog keeps scoring & Sweat makes first start
The MLS and USL seasons are in full swing and Reading United alums are excelling in both divisions.
Deshorn Brown wowed the crowd at Al Lang Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rowdies, when the former United star hit an exquisite bicycle kick goal to give the Rowdies an important 1-0 win over the Richmond Kickers. It was Brown’s second goal of the season and helped Tampa Bay snap a three match winless streak.
Brown’s strike also caught the attention of the national media as it earned the top spot on SportsCenter’s Top Ten. WATCH IT HERE!
Hertz So Good has been the theme for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds this season as United alum Corey Hertzog has been on fire through the first seven matches of 2017. In the first match of this year’s Keystone Derby, Hertzog notched a 75th minute game-winning goal to helped the Riverhounds up end the Harrisburg City Islanders by a 1-0 final. It was the Antietam High School’s grad fourth tally of the campaign.
Darius Madison is off to a hot start in his rookie season for the Rochester Rhinos. The former United forward looped a shot just under the crossbar for his second goal of 2017 in the Rhinos 4-0 thrashing of the Charlotte Independence.
In Major League Soccer action. NYCFC manager Patrick Vieira handed Reading alum Ben Sweat his first career MLS start. Sweat rewarded his manager’s faith, earning an assist in the 64th minute on a perfect cross to Yangel Herrera’s headed goal.
Alex Bono continues to shine in net for Toronto FC. Bono made his 5th start of the season, posting five saves in TFC’s 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo. It’s was the former Reading netminder’s second clean sheet of the campaign.
Ray Gaddis is back in the Philadelphia Union’s line-up. The Reading United All-Time Best XI defender has made back to back starts for the Union and helped the club keep a clean sheet on the road against the LA Galaxy.
In player news out of Brazil, Kai Fernandes, a defender on United’s 2016 squad, has signed with Nacional FC. The Serie D side plays in Manaus, a city on the Amazon River that played host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Kai is the younger brother of fellow Reading alum Leo Fernandes.
