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Standings,
results and other stats
In the fall of 1990, New York Greek-American Atlas GM George Mellis and then coach Louis Perdikakis unveiled a 19 year-old Long Island University freshman as their stopper/sweeper.
The teenager, tall, slender and with all-round skills that allowed him to play almost anywhere on the pitch, was no ordinary rookie.
Newly arrived in the U.S. from Venezuela via Italy, Giovanni Savarese, had scored against Colombia on his full international debut two years earlier. He’d also represented Venezuela at every level in soccer.
Along with a BA degree in business marketing, he’d leave LIU with 50 goals, most of them scored out of midfield and defense.
Flash forward 17 years from his Greek-Atlas debut. Savarese, after a storied professional career that included accolades as one of the scoring greats of Major League Soccer (MLS), 30 caps for his country and stints in Italy and England and South America, is finally receiving long deserved kudos.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, Savarese, now 36 and back with Greek-Atlas in the CSL, flew down to Tampa where he was inducted into the United Soccer Leagues’ (USL) Hall of Fame. Also inducted were Charlotte Eagles coach Mark Steffens and former Richmond Kickers forward Rob Ukrop.
“It’s very special and a great feeling,” Savarese said of his induction. “I feel humbled being recognized by other people.”
Savarese was honored for his two brilliant stints (1994-95 and 2004) with the Long Island Rough Riders, one of the USL’s glamour sides in its previous incarnation as the United States Inter-regional Soccer League (USISL).
Playing with future MLS stars Tony Meola (fresh off a second World Cup with Team USA), and Chris Armas, he’d lead the Rough Riders to the inaugural USISL championship in September 1995 with a last gasp goal against Minnesota at Mitchel Field.
Savarese’s 35 goals that year earned him MVP honors from the USISL for both the regular season and the playoffs.
He was still turning out for the Greeks in the CSL during his off- seasons with the Rough Riders, but with his scoring prowess, it was inevitable that Mellis and Co. lose him to the emergent MLS.
Since the CSL prohibits professional players, the Greeks’ loss would be a long one.
Savarese was drafted in the 9th round of the inaugural MLS player draft and assigned to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now Red Bull New York). He would score the MetroStars’ first eight goals in team history and after three seasons, tally a club record 42 regular season and playoff goals that he asserts still stands.
“If you look at the regular season and playoffs, I’m still the leading scorer with 42 goals,” he explains. “When you add cup (matches) Clint Mathis has scored more.”
Between 1999 and his return to the Rough Riders for a season in 2004, Savarese did the rounds with several clubs on three continents. There was the New England Revolution, LA Galaxy and the San Jose Earthquake in MLS; Serie A’s Perugia who loaned him out to Serie C side Viterbese; that famous old Welsh club Swansea and even one game with a Millwall team where Kasey Keller had honed his goalkeeping skills in England.
Perhaps not surprisingly, Savarese’s pace and ruthless finishing made him a natural in the rough and tumble British game at Swansea where he scored 13 goals for the Swans.
“They played a style that suited my qualities,” he recalled.
During his MLS career, Savarese would return to his native Venezeula at the end of every season and stints with top flight clubs such as Caracas FC, Tachira and Deportivo Italchacao.
It was during one such stint with Caracas FC that the well-traveled player made his debut in the Libertadores Cup, South America’s version of the UEFA Champions League.
For his country, Savarese would score a respectable ten goals in 30 appearances, once netting against Argentina the year the two-time winners were favored to lift the 1998 World Cup.
He won his last cap in 2001 against Colombia, against whom he had debuted 14 years earlier.
The end of his pro career signaled Savarese’s return to the welcome arms of New York Greek-American/Atlas and the Cosmopolitan League.
“He means a lot to us,” said Mellis, still Greek-Atlas GM.
“The fact that he came back to play for us without compensation shows what a class act he is,” Mellis added.
Savarese has become a magnet of sorts for the Greeks, Mellis points out.
“Because of him we are able to have a good team because players want to play with him. It’s an honor for us to be associated with him.”
ROVERS LANDSLIDE
Hat trick hero Stepen Puliese led Barnstonworth Rovers to a 6-2 romp over Lansdowne Bhoys in a First Division make-up game at Pier 40 on Tuesday night.
Pugliese headed in the opener (25th) from a brilliant cross by Andy Abramovits. Mat Levine followed the cue ten minutes later, nodding in the second off a Jordan Chirico corner.
Pugliese made it 3-0 on the hour after latching onto an Einar Benedtksson through ball. He ended his spree in the 70th minute, courtesy of Sam Wiggin.
Lansdowne pulled one back before Yuri Krym (80th) finished off a Chirico rebound.
A second Lansdowne goal failed to daunt Rovers. On the stroke of full time, Vidar Ekehaug passed to Ron Baskin (90th) who delivered the coup de grace.
“We’ll shut down Savarese on Sunday for you so that you can have something to write about,” joked Rovers’ coach Stavros Zomopolous, looking ahead to their weekend encounter with Greek-Atlas.
KICKER FURY
Manhattan Kickers’ rookie Over-30 side is now 10 points clear atop the First Division (West) standings after thrashing Banatul 4-1 last Sunday.
Banatul made a false start with a rocket effort in the third minute before Kickers took over.
Two goals ten minutes apart by Jorg Stratmann (25th) and Paul Cowler, with Statmann providing the assist, gave Kickers a 2-1 half time lead.
On resumption, Jeff Saunders (55th) beat the last defender drew the goalie to the left and slotted the ball in. Brian Salazar (65th) headed in a Scott Conti cross for number four.
A team built mostly around several former New York Fury players, Kickers improved to 8-1 (24), ten points ahead of second place Barnstonworth Premier.
GOTTSCHEE EXIT
Metro Division One BW Gottschee lost 4-0 to South Baisley in a delayed D’Aprino Cup second round match.
“Playing on an unusual day (since) all leagues usually have this weekend off, Gottschee found themselves playing with just enough players with three or four starters not present,” said John Krische.
“Gottschee kept the game close through 65 minutess but just ran out of steam. Baisley put in four goals in the last 25 minutes.”
FROSINONE RESULT
In Division Two, Frosinone beat Ridgewood 2-0. Ridgewood’s reserves lost 1-0.
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