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October 4, 2012
UNEXPECTED ROUT
CSL Roundup: NYAC reserves roll past G-A Atlas, 6-1, in title rematch
By Jay Mwamba
BigAppleSoccer.com Contributor
In a rematch of their First Division Reserve championship game four months ago, title holders New York Athletic Club demolished New York Greek-American/Atlas, 6-1, on Travers Island last Sunday to make it four wins out of four in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League this fall.
The two sides had battled to a 1-1 tie in the title decider last June before NYAC prevailed 5-4 on penalties.
No one expected a rout this time.
“This was a rematch of the championship so I'd thought they would bring more firepower, but it apparently wasn't available,” NYAC coach Bill Saporito said. “They tried to play a high line against us, which was risky since we clearly had more speed.”
The Greek backline was repeatedly breached as first center back Scott Noble [15th minute] and then Brian Kuritzsky [23rd minute] fired NYAC ahead.
Atlas pulled one back from the spot, but new boy Juan Lanza restored NYAC’s two-goal cushion going into the break with a clever lob.
Second half goals by Ryan Kneipper (from an Alex Deckert ball), Lanza and Kuritzky again completed the rout.
“Our team is rock solid so far, but we have some difficult games ahead,” Saporito said.
MEGA POKE
The main fixture on Travers Island was a titanic battle decided by Chris Megaloudis’ second-half poke in – his sixth goal in four matches for the CSL champions. The Puerto Rican international reacted first to Yahaya Musa’s header from a Hemir Niebles free kick.
“It was always going to be a very tough game against a very good NYAC team. They are very organized and have some great players, so we had to be at our best to get the result,” Atlas co-coach Joe Ruesgen said.
He lauded his team’s excellent organization and work rate and said the 1-0 outcome was a fair result. It moved Atlas [3-0, 9] into first place in the East, ahead of NYAC on goal difference with a game in hand.
‘LUCKY’ ROVERS
After dropping their first two games, Barnstonworth Rovers have won two straight. They edged New York Croatia, 2-1, in Boonton, N.J.
“I think we rode our luck,” coach Stavros Zomopoulos said. “Croatia got an injury in the 80th minute and had no more substitutions, so they went to 10 men, and we won in the 88th.’
Columbia University student Steven Keker struck for both goals.
Darnell Nance [three], Ben Reeves and Nick Bill scored for Rovers’ reserves in a 5-0 blowout.
TOP DOGS
A 2-0 decision over Polonia on Randalls Island was enough to lift Central Park Rangers atop the log in the West. This, after Lansdowne Bhoys were hammered 4-0 by United FC.
Conor O’Donoghue [penalty kick] and Lasse Kokko connected for unbeaten CPR [2-0-2, 8] which leads Lansdowne by a point.
“We dominated much of [the] game but did not play with the needed urgency in the first half. We stepped up our intensity in the second half and could have had a host of goals if not for heroic goalkeeping,” CPR manager Yuval Lion said.
His reserves posted their first win, 2-0, with Mike DeChristopher, assisted by man of the match Devin Roche, and the prolific Chris Norelli on the mark.
“"It took four games, but the CPR reserves finally got their first win this season and that their play has deserved,” Lion said.
BHOYS CRASH
Lansdowne, meanwhile, came a cropper in a 4-0 win at the Aviator Sports Complex, with Adam Himeno netting a hat-trick for United. Jean Batiste was the other scorer.
“Terrible result. We didn’t turn up,” conceded player-coach Austin Friel.
In an early season top-of-the-table clash, Lansdowne’s reserves edged United’s ‘B’ team, 2-1, courtesy of Richard Hartnett and Innocent Yapi, to claim first place in the West.
STEFAN DOUBLE
At St. John’s University, former Chicago Fire forward Stefan Dimitrov recorded a brace while goalkeeper Christian Iordanou excelled in Pancyprian Freedoms’ 2-1 decision over Manhattan Celtic.
The Celtic reserves triumphed, 3-0.
KICK-FEST
Manhattan Kickers run rampant at East River Park, thrashing Stal Mielec, 6-1, to stay ahead of NYPD FC atop the Second Division table on goal difference.
Man of the of the match Adam Dhanens set up Matt Smith [10th] for the opener, then reeled in a brace himself [20th, 43rd]. Jens Jorgensen [65th], Joe Haycocks [75th] and Pietro Sgueglia [85th] completed the rout for the 2-0-1, seven points] Kickers.
The Kickers’ second unit also was emphatic 5-1 winners, with Chris Paterson [10th, 80th], Jamie Field [15th] and Alex Petrovic [70th] among the scorers.
KNIGHTS PIPPED
Rene Lopez, Collin Wynter, Diego Martinez and Chris Salvage delivered in NYPD’s 4-3 defeat of Tesoro Brooklyn Kings that kept the Cops level with Kickers on seven points.
Lopez, along with Chris Mejia, had scored earlier for the reserves who prevailed, 2-1.
NYPD v FDNY
Meanwhile, less than 24 hours before they host Kickers in a top-of-the-table clash at Flushing Meadow at 10 a.m. this Sunday, NYPD will tackle FDNY in a charity match Saturday at 6 p.m. at Red Bull Arena, after the Red Bulls-Chicago Fire encounter at 3:30 p.m.
Tickets are $24.
STEVIE JOY
New York Ukrainain coach Steve Kovalenko was celebrating a rare double last weekend after crushing Shamrock in both games at Red Hook.
His reserves romped home 4-0, thanks to Christian Valdez, Boris Shapoval, Lukasz Prawozin and Daniel Park.
Then David Alkasim inspired Ukrainians’ first side to a 4-2 victory with a superb solo goal [15th] after he had rounded the entire Shamrock defense. Gambian Algie Janneh [30th penalty, 65th] and Joey Betras [85th] secured the points after Matt Partain [penalty] and fullback Jonny Chapman had drawn Shamrock level.
CD EXPRESS
Another win, another rout for Metro Division One East front runners CD Iberia, which downed Sporting Astoria, 5-3, on Randalls Island to maintain their 100 percent record.
Luke Shkreli, Steve “El Caballo” Nyarady [two], Alex “Kun” Dominguez and Abdulla Begai tallied for the Spaniards who led 5-1 at one point before Astoria scored twice in a late flurry.
“Overall, we [were] pleased with the positive result against a combative Sporting Astoria team,” said David Lago, whose men improved to 4-0 and 12 points.
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