A spectacular free kick goal on a picture perfect Saturday night saw Reading United come from behind to defeat visiting Real Central New Jersey, 2-1. Man of the Match Michael Rempel’s lightning bolt free kick goal from 20 yards in the 82nd minute helped complete United’s comeback and secure three crucial points in the red hot race to win the USL League Two Mid-Atlantic Division. RCNJ forward Justin Brunow's goal late in the first half stunned the hosts before Reading climbed back into the match thanks to a 63rd minute tally by Jack McDaid.

The divisional foes were locked in a stalemate for much of the first half as neither side was able to seize the initiative in a half punctuated by choppy play and 12 fouls. 

Real Central New Jersey broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute when they took a 1-0 lead through Brunow’s slick goal. Curt Calov dispossessed United defender Eamon McLaughlin deep in Reading’s half. Calov cut inside and played a square ball to Hugo Cakurda, who unlocked the Reading defense with a through ball to Brunow. The RCNJ forward silenced the home crowd as he poked the ball past United goalkeeper Jason Smith. 

Reading came out of the locker room and immediately began pressuring their guests to open the second half. That pressure would crack the RCNJ defense in the 63rd minute.

Substitute Liam May played a quick throw to United forward Sam Hershey. Reading’s leading scorer fought off two RCNJ defenders to work his way into the six yard box and played a low cross to the feet of Jack McDaid. The midfielder from Havertown, Pennsylvania fired the ball into the net to level the match at 1-1.

Reading would complete the comeback in the game’s final minutes. Giampaolo Nardi was fouled from behind just outside the RCNJ penalty area to set up a dangerous free kick chance for the hosts. Midfielder, and Man of the Match, Michael Rempel stepped up and hit a glorious free kick that rocketed into the upper right corner of the goal, igniting the home crowd and giving Reading a 2-1 lead with less than four minutes left in regulation.

Goalkeeper Jason Smith made several clutch stops in the nearly six minutes of second half stoppage time to seal Reading’s third win of the 2024 season. United are now 3-1-0 this season and are tied with next week’s opponent, the Ocean City Nor’easters, on nine points at the top of the Mid-Atlantic Division.

Next week’s showdown with the Nor’easters is set for Saturday, June 9th when they host their longtime rivals at Alvernia University Stadium. The old foes played a pair of 1-1 draws in 2023. The Reading United-Ocean City rivalry is the oldest active rivalry in the USL. This will be the clubs’ 58th all-time meeting. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm. Single game and season tickets for the 2024 campaign can be purchased online at www.readingunitedac.com/tickets.