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Standings,
results and other stats
Maybe it was the fatigue from playing three hard games in seven
days, or perhaps it was just the dogged challenge posed by an unassuming
side that’s one point off the pace in the East.
Whatever the reasons, holders Pancyprian Freedoms barely scrapped
through to the quarterfinals of the Manning Cup last Sunday after
a 6-5 penalty victory over Central Park Rangers at the Metropolitan
Oval.
Pancyprian, perhaps a little jaded after trouncing New York Athletic
Club 4-0 in the league seven days earlier, and a 5-2 romp over Olympic
78 in the U.S. Open Cup in midweek, were taken to the brink by Rangers.
CPR were undaunted when Pete Halkidis volleyed the Greek-Cypriots
ahead early in the second half.
They hit back 15 minutes from time through Kader Zebentout who curled
in a shot off a David Briefel assist.
CPR then dodged a bullet in the 88th minute when Pancyprian dangerman
Julio Cesar Santos, on target five times in the week running up
to the cup tussle, missed a penalty.
In the shoot-out, both teams converted their first three PKs. Then
CPR keeper Ben Lucki saved Pancyprian’s fourth. However, CPR’s
next penalty came off the bar.
With the scores level at 4-4 after five attempts each, sudden-death
was invoked and it was the cup holders that held their nerve. They’ll
meet FC Bulgaria in the last eight on December 2.
Yuval Lion, CPR’s manager, felt his side was unlucky.
“We matched the Pancyprians in every department and possibly
edged the game on chances,” he observed. “It was a great
effort against the cup holders and could have very easily gone our
way in the shoot out.”
At any rate, CPR will get another shot a glory when Pancyprian,
first in the West, return to the Met Oval for a league match this
Sunday.
CD STUNNER
There was an upset at Francis Lewis High School where Bulgaria came
from behind to stun CD Iberia 3-1 on goals by Plamen Mihaylov (34th),
Stefan Dimitrov (55th) and Galin Andreev (80th).
Antonio Trillo (5th) was the Iberia scorer.
“Great game against a very good team,” said Bulgaria coach
Koko Veltchev.
Iberia’s Diego Monteagudo returned the compliment: “Hats
off to Bulgria who played their game to perfection. Needless to
say we are disappointed about being out of the cup.”
WALKING WOUNDED
Pancyprian suited up just 12 players against CPR, three of whom,
including goal hero Pete Halkidis were playing injured, according
to George Halkidis.
Four days earlier, Pancyprian had opened their U.S. Open Cup campaign
with a 5-2 victory over Olympic 78 at Verazzano Sports Complex.
Julio Cesar Santos (12th, 75th & 85th), Chris Megaloudis (25th),
and Pete Halkidis (65th) connected.
ENTER ROVERS
Also in midweek, Barnstonworth Rovers, the Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s
other U.S. Open Cup envoys, knocked out Albanian Eagles 3-2 at Verazzano
to secure a second round meeting with Pancyprian.
Nessa, Benediktsson and Levine tallied for Rovers.
Last Sunday, Jordan Chirico put Rovers in the Manning Cup quarterfinals
with the only goal of the match (75th) against West Indies United
of the Long Island Soccer Football League (LISFL).
“We had a (slew) of chances; three breakaways and hit the post
twice. They had two shots on goal the all match,” said Rovers
coach Stavros Zomopoulos.
GREEKS NEXT
Manning Cup semi-finalists last season, Zomopoulos and Co. must
go through New York Greek-American/Atlas on December 2 to make the
final four again; this after the Greeks edged Istria 2-1 at Cardoza
High School.
Salim and the in-form Giovanni Savarese scored.
ZAJAC THE MAN
Polonia ace Lukasz Zajac went supernova for six devastating minutes
to kill off visiting Farmingville at McCarren Park. The Poles won
4-1 to book a date with Lansdowne Bhoys.
Zajac, who’s returning to top form after injury, struck in
the 18th, 20th and 24th minutes. Jacek Lawniczak (80th) sealed it.
Manager Roman Gierczak credited president-coach Michal Siwiec’s
pre-match pep talk for rekindling the club’s old form.
“We’re very happy that Polonia is (regaining) the form
we are used to,” Gierczak added, singling out fullback Waldemar
Wolski and Zajac as the best players on the day.
GOOD LUCK, ROMUALD!
And in a PR coup of sorts for Polonia and the CLS, former coach
Romuald Szukielowicz, who took the Poles to the runners-up position
in both the Manning Cup and the League last season, has been named
boss of Zaglebie Sosnowiec, a professional club in Poland’s
Orange Extraklasa, the country’s version of the EPL.
His former side, meanwhile, meets Polish Second Division leaders
Slask Wroclaw in an international friendly at Aviator Sports Complex
this Sunday (kick-off 3 pm).
IRISH THROUGH
Tommy Smyth and Damian Mescall scored against Albanian Eagles to
propel suspension-hit Lansdowne Bhoys into the Manning Cup quarters
against Polonia, 2-1.
FORZA ITALIA
Ed Hayden, Cleveland Jordan, Enzo Colangelo and Hughes McDonald
tallied in Brooklyn Italians’ 4-1 defeat of SV Olympic.
The Italians clash with NYAC in the quarterfinals, following the
latter’s 2-0 result against Glen Cove at Ichan Stadium.
Ryan Kneipper was involved in both goals. He won the penalty from
which Alex Brown (30th) connected, then played a one-two that released
Giuseppe Incitti (35th) for number two.
FLAMHAFT CUP
They may have their woes in the league, but FC Japan just can’t
stop scoring in cup football. The Second Division stragglers hammered
SSCD of the Italian league 5-1 to secure a quarterfinal berth in
the Flamhaft Cup against Yonkers Ukrainians.
Yojiro Imasaka (5th), Kenta Hidaka (10th), Hitoshi Mori (48th),
Yojiro Imasaka (53rd) and Yoshiharu Kusaka (60th) were on target.
Japan’s cup form isn’t confined to its first team. The
reserves topped Brentwood 2-0 in the D’Arpino competition.
“We are playing well in these state cups, and hope to shift
this winning trend toward this weekend’s league game,”
Tosh Tatezawa said.
CELTIC GRIT
Ian Woodcock’s Manhattan Celtic are also in the last eight
after a gutsy victory at Pier 40. They stormed back from 2-1 down,
with ten men and 15 minutes to go, to win 3-2.
David Linn, Stuart Evans and Michael Thomas scored.
“Our first team showed true grit to fight back,” Woodcock
said.
His reserves also advanced to the D’Arpino Cup quarters after
out-shooting Metro Div. One club Guyana Juniors 4-2 on penalties.
Michael Dinuzzo, Chris Vega and James Ingram tallied for Celtic
in the 3-3 regulation tie.
FURY SUSPENSE
New York Fury were up 1-0 against Kastoria when the Hellenic League
side walked off the McCarren Park pitch 25 minutes into the Flamhaft
Cup quarterfinal.
“We are awaiting a league decision on the outcome,” said
Steven Walker.
KICKED OUT
No such dilemma for Manhattan Kickers who succumbed 2-0 to Morazan
of the EDSL at Grand Street.
At Evander Childs High School, Ridgewood Romac scored four times
against Serbia but still bowed out of the Flamhaft Cup 5-4 in regulation.
“Didn’t have the whole team,” Yani Anton lamented.
D’ARPINO CUP
Ejon Qoku’s double for the Pancyprian Freedoms reserves saw
off Sporting Astoria 2-0 at Long Island City High School.
“This is the only title that has eluded this team and we’re
hoping that this year we’ll finally corral it,” said Pancyprian’s
George Halkidis.
The Greek-Cypriots will have to overcome New York’s Finest
in the quarterfinals to stay on course.
“ROVERS DISGRACE”
From Metro Div. II, the Finest upset First Division Barnstonworth
Rovers’ second team 4-2 at Flushing Meadow.
Matt Lowe and Andrew George scored for Rovers.
“We were disgraceful,” said Rovers coach Stavros Zomopoulos.
“Only 10 showed up. We underestimated the opposition and were
duly punished.”BO KNOWS SOCCER
Bo Nikolic’s goal (44th) lifted undefeated Metro Div. One leaders
New York Croatia past First Division one Central Park Rangers reserves
1-0 at the Aviator Complex.
IRISH DERBY
Shamrock battled Irish Rovers’ seconds to a 1-all draw in regulation,
but then missed one penalty in a 5-4 shoot-out loss to last season’s
losing finalists at McCarren Park.
Rovers, who led through Robin Lee (25th) before Stephen Douglas
(60th) leveled, faces Koha next to decide who meets Croatia in the
quarters.DENNEHY’S DAY
Mr. Dennehy’s came away from West Babylon with a 2-1 win and
a Round of 16 date with D’Arpino Cup holders New York Greek-American/Atlas
(reserves).
Goals in either half by Andy Sole and Gerry Smith did the trick
in a match that reportedly lacked the drama of the team’s long
commute -- punctured tires and all.
BHOYS ROMP
The Lansdowne Bhoys reserves hammered Metro Div. II SC Eintracht
4-1 at the Metropolitan Oval and will meet the Dennehy’s vs.
Greek/Atlas winner in the quarters.
Striker Brendan Moran struck the bar after eight seconds then won
a penalty (8th) that Aidan Corr converted. Kevin McGeeney (18th),
Mark Maguire (60th) and Colombian import Filipe Bustamante (80th)
also scored.
Bate Ning (50th) had Eintracht’s consolation.
CLUTCH PLAYER
Dan “Mr. Clutch” Geraci was the star as Metro Div. One
mid-table side Long Island United pulled off a 2-1 giant-killing
act against NYAC in the D’Arpino Cup.
Will Corrigan opened the scoring at Ichan Stadium off Paul Galli’s
defense splitting pass, but NYAC, second on the ‘East’
Reserve standings in the top flight, leveled through a superb Ethan
free kick.
Geraci nicked it in the second half from a Leo Russo cross.
Said United’s Frank Savocchi: “A well played match, but
(we) showed a tremendous amount of heart and determination to win
on the road.”
Elsewhere in D’Arpino Cup action, Brooklyn Italians’ second
team bowed 2-1 to Istria, Kandia’s reserves crashed 4-0 to
Newfield, while Ridgewood were hammered 7-0 by Islip.
MARTH CUP
Rookie Over-30 side Manhattan Kickers beat SC Eintracht 5-4 on penalties
to qualify for the quarterfinals.
Dylan Dodd (23rd) and Eintracht stalwart Tommy Strumpf (88th) scored
in the 1-1 regulation tie.
GOTTSCHEE OUT
Playing ten men the entire second half, luckless BW Gottschee hit
the woodwork three times in a goalless match before going out 5-4
on penalties to Fishkill.
WESTCHESTER, TOO
Coach Hugo Guaglianone had kudos for fullback Henry Tebba despite
a 6-0 mauling by Baisley United.
“Great game by Henry. For some reason he excels in special
games, and also much credit to (halfback) Erik Donis and the entire
team,” Guaglianone offered.
In other Marth Cup results, Central Park Rangers went out 4-3 on
penalties to Banatul, while NewYork Greek-American/Atlas lost 1-0
to Istria.
MAKE-UP GAMES
Hoboken FC bested ASA McCarthy 3-1 to move to within a point of
second place Shamrock in Metro Div. One (East).
Sal Carramusa (24th), Neal Ventola (44th)) and Kerry Hall (77th
pen.) connected after McCarthy (2nd) had made a false start.
Hoboken improved to 3-3-1 (10).
PARTIZANI HELD
Chris “Guns” Fugelsang’s first strike of the season
(25th) earned EMC a 1-all tie with FC Partizani at Randalls Island.
Alban Dizdari (15th) had given Partizani, who had a man ejected
ten minutes from time, the lead.
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