READING, PA (June 8, 2019) – Mid-Atlantic Division leaders Reading United A.C. picked up their fifth win of the 2019 USL League Two campaign on Saturday night, dominating Evergreen FC en route to a 3-0 victory at Wilson High School’s Gurski Stadium. Simon Becher tallied his team leading fourth goal of the season, while Rok Taneski and Jeremy Rafanello each recorded their first league goal of the season. Goalkeeper Quantrell Jones made six saves to keep a clean sheet in his United debut. The win extended Reading United’s unbeaten run in regular season play to 23 games.

From the opening whistle, Evergreen tried to knock Reading out of rhythm by playing a rugged, physical game, but the hosts maintained their composure and seized control of the match.

United would open the scoring in the game’s 12th minute with some clinical build-up play. Albin Rousselet shredded the Evergreen defense, zipping a thirty yard through ball down the left flank to the feet of midfielder Rok Taneski. The University of Dayton star cut toward the visitors’ goal and flicked a pass to a wide-open Simon Becher lurking two yards from goal. Becher, rated as the 13th best prospect in USL League Two, tapped Taneski’s pass home to give Reading a 1-0 lead.

Just before halftime, United would double their advantage. Sergio Pinto led an attack down the left before hitting a diagonal ball into the path of Becher. The Reading forward dummied the ball, letting it roll past him and to the feet of Taneski. The former Slovenian youth national team midfielder eluded a defender and fired past Evergreen goalkeeper Dane Jacomen to make it 2-0.

Following the halftime break, Jones was called into action to deny Evergreen’s best chance of the match. The United goalkeeper stretched to make an acrobatic diving stop on a well-struck Bernie Majano free kick attempt to keep the visitors off the scoreboard.

Reading United put the game out of reach in the 84th minute. Alvin Dahn led a United counterattack down the left sideline. The speedy St. Joseph’s University midfielder spotted Jeremy Rafanello’s run down the middle of the field and cut apart the Evergreen defense with a perfectly weighted through ball. Rafanello collected the pass, rounded Jacomen and scored into an empty net to push Reading’s advantage to 3-0.

Following the match, United boss Alan McCann was pleased with his side’s performance, saying, “The result was good. The first half performance was good at times. We dealt with the physical side of it very well, we haven’t reacted to any of the off the ball stuff. Some guys individually stepped up and made our job more difficult picking out a starting eleven.”

Reading United have less than 24 hours to enjoy the win over Evergreen as attention immediately turns to Sunday evening’s match on the road against the Long Island Rough Riders. Weather forced the postponement of the originally scheduled match between the long time Mid-Atlantic Division foes on June 5th.

Reading will return home to Gurski Stadium on Saturday, June 15th when they face the Ocean City Nor’easters on Kicks Against Cancer Night. Tickets for the match can be purchased online at www.readingunitedac.com/tickets. United will be wearing special jerseys for the match the will be auctioned off following the game.

SCORING SUMMARY
RUAC: Simon Becher (Rok Taneski) - 12'
RUAC: Rok Taneski (Sergio Pinto) - 43'
RUAC: Jeremy Rafanello (Alvin Dahn) - 84'

READING UNITED LINE-UP
GK - Quantrell Jones; DEF - Timo Hummrich, Brandon Hackenberg, James Williamson, Gian Scalise (Corey Burkhardt 86'); MID - Gilbert Waso (Callum Carsley 86'), Alban Rousselet, Sergio Pinto (Dario Conte 83'), Rok Taneski (Alvin Dahn 68'), Amferny Arias (Seth Kuhn 61'); FWD - Simon Becher (Jeremy Rafanello 72')