8,000 miles away from the World Cup in South Africa, the deafening drone of vuvuzela’s, the worldly popular fan blow horns, filled the air at Wake Med Soccer Park on Saturday night and provided a “World Cup-like atmosphere” for the RailHawks duel against NASL Conference rival Montreal Impact.

Heading into Saturday night’s match unbeaten in six straight matches, the RailHawks added to that streak against the Impact, gaining a point in what became a very controversial 2-2 outcome.

With the first half scoreless and providing very little offensive action, almost every eventful moment in the match came in the final 45 minutes.

The RailHawks first goal came in the 61^st minute by substitute striker Sallieu Bundu off a swirling corner provided by defender David Hayes. It was the first real threatening chance across the goal mouth and the ball was attacked with both power and precision by the strong body of Bundu.

As the game progressed, the RailHawks began to find their form and put more pressure on Montreal’s defensive third of the pitch. In the 71^st minute, midfielder Daniel Paladini received a through ball into the box with his back to the goal. With a brilliant spin move, Paladini turned to have a strike on goal but was illegally slid from behind which led to the center referee pointing to the penalty spot. Midfielder Floyd Franks slotted home the penalty kick beautifully, despite having to take it twice because of an encroachment the first time.

The match went downhill and took a turn for the worst in the final 15 minutes when Montreal mustered up a cheap rebound goal finished by Simon Gatti in a crowded penalty box off of a corner by Leonardo Dilorenzo.

In the 93^rd minute of this hard-fought three point victory the RailHawks had seemingly wrapped up, the referee blew his whistle, pointing to the penalty spot rather than calling the game over. To the majority of players, coaches, and fans involved in this match, everyone was puzzled with the decision, well past extra time, and not a deliberate obstruction of the ball. Regardless of the appeals, Bundu was penalized, and Montreal midfielder Tony Donatelli converted the penalty kick at the spot to end this rivalry in a 2-2 stale mate.

Coach Rennie’s Postgame Comments:

In response to the penalty call:

“I’ve never seen anything like it, it’s blatant cheating. In my mind, that’s trying to give them a penalty. That referee shouldn’t ever be able to referee at this level again.”

Overall game comments:

“We’ve been having a rough run at home and a win tonight would have taken us out of that. We need a few days off. We’ve been playing all over the country with two matches a week and we could use a break. We have been doing well on the road and we’re just getting ready for four more big road games.”

Mark Shulte Postgame Comments:

On match today:

“It feels like a loss today. We had all the opportunities to win this match and we made mistakes that cost us. I expect more from us and this is unacceptable at home for our fans and our organization to not win a game like tonight.”