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Standings,
results and other stats
Polonia
put the shackles on hitman Julio Cesar Santos then struck a late
winner to stun Pancyprian Freedoms 1-0 at McCarran Park and grab
first place in Division One (East).
Rafal Stefek settled the top-of-the-table clash with a 75th minute
header off a Lukasz Zajac free kick.
“We’ve never beaten these guys before so it’s a great
result of us,” enthused Polonia boss Michael Siwiec.
He attributed the victory, which put his club (4-0-1, 13) three
points clear of Pancyprian atop the East, to the great job stopper
Lukasz Bielen did on the lethal Santos, who’d scored in all
of the Greek-Cypriots’ four games this season.
“We did our homework on him,” said Siwiec.
The ex-Brazilian pro, with nine goals from four previous matches,
including two hat tricks, was restricted to hitting the post.
“It was a game where (we) had the upper hand throughout but could
not capitalize on the numerous chances,” said Pancyprian
official George Halkidis, counting three “classy” saves
by Polonia’s goalie.
Halkidis, nonetheless, gave Polonia credit for knocking Pancyprian
(3-1-1, 10) out of first place for the first time in five years.
“It was a good match played by two well coached teams,”
he said, vowing that Pancyprian would bounce back.
Pancyprian’s reserves won 4-0.
GREEKS STUNNED
On a weekend of upsets in the Cosmopolitan league, CD Iberia erased
a two-goal deficit at Cardoza High School to stun New York Greek-American
Atlas 3-2.
Iberia kicked off with nine men and Atlas wasted no time reeling
in two quick goals. Around the 25-minute mark the calvary, in the
form of four players arrived for CD.
In less than 20 minutes, Iberia’s “Nigerian Nightmare”
Ron Azinge, one of the late comers, and Tony Russo, had drawn Iberia
level. Then Kevin Moo Young netted the winner (60th).
“Big come-back; big win for us,” exclaimed co-coach David
Lago, whose men climbed into third (3-2, 9) a point behind Pancyprian
in the East.
The reserves tied 3-3.
NYAC PIPPED
West leaders New York Athletic Club stayed tops (4-1, 12) despite
succumbing 2-1 to Brooklyn Italians at the Verrazano Sports Complex.
Amir Aliyev and Javier Pantaleon led the Italians, with Brett Burns
the NYAC marksman.
The Italians, 6-5 victors in the reserve meeting, won for the second
time in four days. They beat Iberia 3-1 last Wednesday on goals
by Elysee (two) and Andreas.
KADER STRIKES
At Ichan Stadium, Kader Zebentout consigned Barnstonworth Rovers
to a 1-0 defeat to keep Central Park Rangers (3-1-1, 10) joint second
with Brooklyn Italians in the West.
“Kadi kept a cool head when put through on goal and finished
clinically,” said CPR manager Yuval Lion.
Rovers’ reserves run off 2-1 winners.
TOMMY BHOY
Player-coach Tommy McMenemy’s double (10th, 35th) secured Lansdowne
Bhoys’ first win, a 3-0 romp over fellow stragglers New York
Fury. Craig Smart (75th) was the other scorer.
Lansdowne took the reserve fixture 2-1.
RED BULL CONNECTION
Manhattan Kickers also broke their duck in Division One with a 2-1
decision over New York Albanians, thanks to new signing Simon Muckle,
a visiting youth coach with MLS’ New York Red Bull.
The 21 year-old Englishman bagged both goals while Kickers’
player-coach Mike Fitzgerald pulled off several superb saves to
preserve the win in the bottom-of-the-table tussle.
“He’s quite an addition to the team and we’re happy
to have him for as long as we can,” Fitzgerald said of the
explosive Muckle.
Kickers’ reserves also won for the first time, 2-0.
TOP DOGS
Adrian Dimitrov and Galin Andreev (two) connected in the 3-0 drubbing
of Central Park Rangers to move FC Bulgaria (4-1, 12) a point ahead
of FC Japan atop Division Two.
The CPR reserves lost 2-1.
JAPAN TIE
Japan, meanwhile, needed two late goals to preserve their unbeaten
record in a 5-5 draw with NIFA.
Takeshi Hirai, Masato Yuasa, Kenta Hidaka, Tomohiro Tsuchiya and
Suginari Morimoto tallied for the Japanese, whose reserves fell
3-1.
STAL STALLED
Robert Brozyna, one of seven ex-Polonia players, in the Stal Mielec
ranks, had his 20th minute effort canceled out by Michael Thomas
(65th) in a 1-all tie with Manhattan Celtic at Chelsea Pier 40.
Third place Stal, beaten 1-0 in the reserves, dropped four points
behind Bulgaria albeit with a game in hand.
SUPER SAV
Also in Division Two, Sebastian Sav’s early brace (8th, 15th)
for Banatul was enough to hold off Kandia 2-1 at the Metropolitan
Oval.
“Everybody played very well,” said the 25 year-old midfielder,
spreading the credit.
“Same old story,” sighed Kandia coach Colin Hemmings,
whose Kiminas Salmon scored. “We had chances to win.”
Kandia’s reserves won 7-3.
SHAMROCK ENCORE
For the second week in a row Shamrock pulled off the great escape,
coming from 3-0 down to avoid defeat, this time against SC Ukrainians
in Metro Div. I.
The game finished 3-3 at McCarran Park after two-goal hero Matt
Schugg, instrumental in the Rocks’ 7-6 Flamhaft Cup victory
over Five Towns seven days earlier, and Sean Kelly had pegged back
Ukrainian scorers Piotr Brezinski (50th), Adam Maliniak (55th) and
Marcin Baran (60th).
“Give the team credit, the lads worked hard,” said
Shamrock coach Robbie Walsh.
His opposite, Steve Kovalenko, faulted his tinkering for Ukrainian’s
collapse. “I started to make changes and Shamrock came
back and could even have won it,” he said.
GOTTSCHEE REIGN
Metro Div. 1 West pace-setters BW Gottschee thrashed Hoboken FC
1912, (nee Bergen Kickers) 6-1 at Randalls Island.
Milton Ospina (20th, 30th), Damar Agola (50th), Maiber Polanco (60th),
Jorge Bernal (70th) and Daniel Giraldo (80th) tallied. Neal
Ventola had Hoboken’s face-saver.
METRO ACTION
Elsewhere in Metro Div. 1, EL Lamont had New York Wanderers’
lone effort in a 6-1 shellacking by Clarkstown at the Kennedy/Zukor
Field, while East leaders Guyana Juniors hammered Homenetmen 6-0
at the Parade Grounds. Sporting Astoria bested ASA McCarthy 3-1.
MR. DENNEHY’S
Dan McNally (two), Lance Pietrson and Allan Rooney connected for
Metro Div. 2 rookies Mr. Dennehy’s who knocked off EMC 4-0
at Ferris High School in Jersey City.
NASCIMENTO WINNER
OMM SC came away with a 1-0 result from their Metro Div. 2 clash
with Gotham Argo. Keoma Nascimento scored. Gotham’s Nicholas
Raudenski’s claimed dominance despite the loss.
“Kudos are in order for OMM’s goal keeper who produced
the result for OMM, shutting down every Argo shot and break away,”
he said.
At Aviator’s Sports Complex, FC Partizani were trounced 5-0.
GUYANA DERBY
Dexter Deterville and Marlon Hoyte exchanged goals for Pele Masters
and Guyana Veterans ‘A’, respectively, in the Guyanese
clubs 1-all draw.
Veterans (3-0-1, 10) top the ‘B’ Division (East) standings
two points ahead of Pele.
Midfielder Bekir had Shamrock’s only goal in their 3-1 loss
to second place SC Gjoa (3-1, 9) at Dycker Field.
ADVANTAGE EINTRACHT
SC Eintracht, second in the West, saw off Barnstonworth Old Boys
2-1, courtesy of Michael Neubaher (48th) and Torsten Holmes (49th),
to improve to 3-0 (9 pts).
Julian Lord (53rd) replied for the Old Boys.
“We just barely pulled it out. I think we were lucky,”
observed John Steigerwald, who was missing his entire starting midfield.
PICTURE PERFECT
West frontrunners Barnstonworth Premier made it four wins out of
four with a 2-1 decision over Guyana Veterans ‘B,’ who
had a goal from Dirk Willis.
Barnstonworth’s sister club, Barnstonworth Rovers ended GH
Metros’ two-match winning streak with a 4-2 win at the Metropolitan
Oval.
Luis Zalyala (two) starred for Metros.
DOLPHIN FODDER
Westchester had goals by Miguel Diaz and Hugo Guaglianone in a 6-2
mauling by Maltese Dolphin.
BW Gottschee bowed 2-0 to New York Croatia at Aviator’s Sports
Complex.
PLAYERS WANTED
Citing Metro Div. 1 Shamrock’s dwindling squad as players return
to Ireland, coach Robbie Walsh is seeking new players to strengthen
his roster. Call (347) 561-0339 for more information.
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