October 19, 2012
CSL ROUNDUP
Central Park Rangers continue unbeaten start with 3-0 win over Pancyprian Freedoms

By Jay Mwamba
BigAppleSoccer.com Contributor

So far in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League this fall, it’s all been about the “Mega-powered” New York Greek-American/Atlas cutting a swathe through the top flight. And indeed the defending champs won again last weekend, for the fifth time, with rampaging forward Chris Megaloudis notching another brace for the Eastern conference leaders.

But flying almost under the radar -- albeit with increasing menace -- in the West are Central Park Rangers, the First Division’s only other unbeaten side. They preserved that record last Saturday with a win over ailing former U.S. national amateur champs Pancyprian Freedoms.

Andy West, Kwesi-Mills Odoi and Xavi Aupic saw off Pancyprians 3-0 on Randalls Island to extend CPR’s impressive start to 4-0-2 and 14 points and maintain its one-point edge over second place United FC.

“We put in another solid display and after a scoreless first half came out the stronger and scored the goals that mattered,” manager Yuval Lion said. “CPR are playing as a team and are on a six-game unbeaten run, which marks our best ever start to a season.”

His second unit had goals from Andres Padilla and Devin Roche in a 3-2 loss.

“A tough loss in a game that they more than deserved to take at least a point from,” Lion said.

POLISHED EFFORT

United CF, which had mauled Pancyprian, 5-0, the previous week, blanked Polonia, 2-0, to stay on CPR’s heels. Adam Himeno and Joseph Ovenceri scored after the Polish reserves had been pipped, 4-3.

“Good game. Polonia [were] tough. Greeks be ready,” said United’s Alex Zaretser, calling out the Greeks ahead of their meeting Nov. 4.

MORE MEGA

Megaloudis, the Puerto Rican international and former Red Bulls striker, has 11 goals from seven matches after his double at Icahn Stadium helped steamroll Barnstonworth Rovers, 4-0.

Keith Detelj and Demitrios Antonopoulos got the others for the apparently under-strength Greeks.

“It was a great performance for us. We were undermanned but a bunch of our reserves stepped up and put in a great performance to help us control the game,” stand-in coach Josh Trott said. “This is the reason why we make sure we have such a large and talented squad. We always feel that we can count on our guys to step up when called for to help maintain the high standards that we have set. It is this type of competitive squad depth that will hopefully allow us another run deep into the season.”

Rovers’ reserves won, 4-1, on goals by Nick Bill [two], Seb Akerman and Eric Hynes.

KOJO ATTACK

Kwadwo “Kojo” Asante hit a hat-trick in Hoboken FC’s 6-0 rout of New York Croatia at Overpeck County Park.

Guilherme Dantas [fourth minute] opened the scoring before Asante [ninth, 60th minutes] took over. “Kojo” closed the show [80th minute], sealing Hoboken’s second win of the season, after Paul Kitson [67th] and Paul Califiore [77th] had extended the lead.

“Hoboken scored early and then in the second half wore Croatia down,” general manager Bill Marth said.

Hoboken’s reserves won big as well, 4-1, thanks to Steve Korfiatis, Isaac Asomani [two goals] and Tarek Yakoubi.

EAGLES DOWNED

New York Athletic Club downed hosts Jersey City Eagles, 1-0, on Peter Nolan's goal at Caven Point Field.

“Very well played game by two excellent teams and a well deserved three points away from home by NYAC,” Jersey’s Oliver Papraniku said.

Ryan Kneipper finished powerfully with his left foot for the solitary goal in the NYAC reserves’ victory.

IRISH DERBY

The first Irish derby in recent years in the upper echelon ended 1-1 after Manhattan Celtic pegged back Lansdowne Bhoys at Pier 40.

Ruari [25th] scored for the Bhoys before Dini Mohammed leveled on the hour.

“I was a little disappointed that we did not get all three points on the night, but credit to Lansdowne they are a difficult team to beat and played good football especially on the counter,” Celtic coach Ian Woodcock said.

The reserves tied, 0-0.

KICKERS ROLL

Manhattan Kickers’ Logan Smith nodded in a late winner [85th] after setting up the equalizer for Patrick Robak [54th] in a 2-1 come-from-behind victory for the Division Two leaders over Flank United at East River Park.

Alex Dawson [16th] had shot United ahead.

Kickers [4-0-1, 13] stayed two points ahead of second place New York Ukrainians, 3-1 victors over Tesoro Brooklyn Knights.

Chris Patterson [two] and Jamie Field were the Kicker reserve scorers in a 3-1 win.

POLICE SQUAD

Third-place NYPD FC remained in the mix three points off the pace after besting Japan FC, 3-1, on Carlos Villacres' hat- trick.

Rene Lopez and Frank Caravella led NYPD’s reserves to a 2-1 decision.

MIELEC STALLED

On Roosevelt Island, Shamrock dispatched Stal Mielec, 4-2. Skipper Pablo Graham, Sean Riley, Adam Amann and Joey Aronovski -- who had the assist on Riley’s goal -- scripted the Shamrock victory after the Poles had taken the lead.

“An enthralling encounter and a must-win game for Shamrock,” said Glen Wrafter, whose TEAM [2-2-2, 8] triumphed for the second time this fall. Midfielder Ciarán Moloney scored in the Shamrock reserves’ 2-1 loss.