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Standings,
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Barnstonworth Rovers’ excellent spring form continued last Sunday when they chalked up an historic 1-0 victory over New York Athletic Club at Ichan Stadium.
The prolific Steve Pugliese bagged the winner 20 minutes from time to make it two wins in a row for Rovers since the resumption of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League (CSL) 2007-2008 season.
“This was the first time ever we’ve ever beaten the NYAC first team. Feels really good!” exclaimed coach Stavros Zomopoulos.
“We really outplayed them,” he added. “Our back four were superb. Their first chance at goal was after we scored. With a bit more composure in front of the net we could have put the game away earlier.”
NYAC were hampered by injuries to three key players in the first half, said Hussein Nasreddin. Among them, Brett Burns and Ryan Kneipper who’d struck twice in a 3-1 win over Lansdowne Bhoys three nights earlier [Helmis Matute was the other scorer].
“But no excuse for the poor goal we gave up,” Nasreddin conceded.
Rovers, 2-0 victors over defending champs Brooklyn Italians on March 17, improved to 6-3-1 (19) in second place, five points behind First Division West leaders Pancyprian Freedoms.
Six-time champs NYAC (4-5-1, 13) are now just two points above the drop zone in the East.
Mahesh Submaranian and Tom Davison tallied for the Rovers reserves in a 5-2 defeat to NYAC’s second XI.
POLONIA PIPPED
The talismanic Julio Cesar Santos (two) and Matia Damiani connected as Pancyprian held off Polonia 3-2 in a thriller at St. John’s University.
Damiani drew first blood after 28 minutes. However, an early second half blitz courtesy of Marcin Kulak (49th) and Tomasz Groch (53rd) shot the Poles ahead.
“Polonia had few chances but did not capitalize,” manager Roman Gierczak would rue.
Inevitably, Julio would level and snatch the winner (68th).
“He was the best player once again on the pitch,” Gierczak would laud the Brazilian while lamenting the loss of his own ace, Lukasz Zajac, now back in Poland.
“It’s a big blow for our club, and no new players arrived. [Still] I am very proud with how my players approached this game with determination and lot of heart,” the manager added.
The Poles (3-5-2, 11) share the bottom rung in the East with Polish compatriots Stal Mielec.
Club president Michael Siwiec scored for the Polish reserves, who lost 3-1 to goals by Adam Brunengo (two) and Chris Chronis.
HARVEY SPECIAL
Rhodri Harvey’s spectacular bicycle kick (80th) earned Central Park Rangers a deserved 1-1 draw with Brooklyn Italians at the Metropolitan Oval.
“We dominated a scoreless first half but could not find the telling pass in the final third,” said CPR boss Yuval Lion.
Second place Rangers (5-3-2, 17) lost a little ground to East frontrunners New York Greek-American/Atlas (21) who picked up three points without a fight when New York Albanians forfeited.
HOT COOKE
Nick Cooke, making his debut for the CPR reserves, hit a hat-trick in a 3-2 decision over Brooklyn’s ‘B’ team.
CD RALLY
Second half goals by Antonio Trillo (two) and Steve Nyarady at McCarren Park lifted CD Iberia past Stal Mielec 3-1 after the latter had led at the interval.
Iberia overcame a sloppy opening 45 minutes with Trillo twice finishing brilliantly and Paddy McAllen springing Nyarady for the insurance goal.
“They are a very physical, well organized team,” Iberia’s Diego Monteagudo praised Stal.
Iberia, whose reserves prevailed 4-2, are third in the West (5-3-2, 17).
BHOYS REBOUND
Lansdowne bounced back from the 3-1 set-back against NYAC to beat FC Bulgaria 3-2 at Francis Lewis High School.
Damian Mescall nicked it for the Bhoys two minutes after Fori Tsechev (80th) had tied the game. Stefan Dimitrov (10th) opened the scoring in the see-saw affair before the Irish hit back through Declan “Tiger” Tighe (35th) and player-coach Tommy McMenemy
Brendan Hansbury, Shane Moore and Frankie Lopez gave the visitors a 3-1 victory in the reserve fixture following Stan Tishinev’s early strike.
CELTIC SOAR
With the top two sides off, Ian Woodcock’s Manhattan Celtics were the big winners in Division Two after routing NIFA 7-1 at Old Boys High School.
Woodcock was among the marksmen as the Celts revived their First Division promotion dreams in emphatic style. Mike Dinuzzio [two], Stuart Evans, Jesse Dinner, Dave Linn and Freddy Estikoh got the other goals.
“Good performance by our lads – we came out strong,” said Woodcock, a Bray native.
Celtic (6-2-1, 19) now share second spot with Frosinone. Both are two points behind idle Manhattan Kickers.
Barry O’Connell (two), John Tanios, Chris Vega, James Prince and James Flynn scored in the Celtic reserves’ 6-2 romp.
FURY TAMED
Stefan Cocea and Gheorghe Radulescu scripted Ridgewood Romac’s 2-1 win over New York Fury at Verazzano.
Fury, 4-2 victors in the reserve tussle, dropped to fourth place, five points behind Kickers.
YOUNG GUNS
Colin Hemmings’ youthful Kandia side knocked off Koha 4-2 at Evander Childs High School on goals by 19-year-old Davey Row (two) and 20-year-old Kemar Henry (two).
Both teams finished with ten men, albeit Kandia had their player, goalie Mario Hammond, ejected in the tenth minute.
“Good result,” quipped Hemmings, whose reserves were humbled 5-0.
JAPAN THWARTED
FC Japan’s long hard winter’s work was thwarted by a late penalty in a 1-1 tie with Central Park Rangers at McCarren Park.
Takao Kenmochi (25th) had Japan ahead for most of the game.
“We had been practicing all through the winter to get a win, and we thought we did until the 85 minute,” lamented Tosh Tatezawa, who disputed the spot kick awarded to CPR.
Japan’s reserves lost 2-1.
DENNEHY’S CRUSHED
Metro Division One East pace-setters New York Croatia ran riot at Ferris High School, thrashing Mr. Dennehy’s 6-0.
New acquisition Edoh Soldji, Mark Loncar (3), Fabio Acquista and an own goal did the trick. The Croats improved to 7-1-2 (24).
SHAMROCK MIX
Shamrock coach Robbie Walsh’s savvy mix of Over-30 players, regulars and new signings paid off with a 5-0 trouncing of New York Wanderers that kept the Rocks five points behind Croatia with a game in hand.
Debutant Karl Hughes had a brace (20th, 80th) but missed a penalty; Sean Barton (50th) added one while skipper Paddy Geraghty (55th, 70th) chipped in with two as well.
“The whole team worked pretty. This gives us a chance for the title,” said Walsh.
SPORTING FALL
“We can’t beat these guys,” remarked Sporting Astoria boss Ed Romero after his team’s 3-2 loss to Guyana Juniors at the Parade Grounds. “A tight game that we should have come away with a draw.”
Jean Pierre and Chris scored in the losing effort.
CLARKSTOWN WIN
While Astoria are now 12 points off the pace, Guyana (6-2-2, 20) remain second in Metro Division One West, seven points behind Clarkston who edged BW Gottschee 1-0 at Rockland Day School.
The two managers offered contrasting views of the game.
“It was a great battle and entertaining game to watch,” said Gottschee’s John Krische.
“It was a pretty ugly contest for the first one out. Both sides had chances but we scored the only goal of the game with about 10 minutes left,” summed up Clarkstown’s Justin Koblish.
L.I. TOPS
Rosario Chiarenza decided a tough match against Hoboken FC 1912 in Long Island United’s favor with a 30-yard missile (67th) at Herricks High School.
United goalie Michael Savocchi recorded his fourth clean sheet.
“An outstanding all around effort from the entire squad,” said Frank Savocchi. Elsewhere in Metro Div. One, Korona Bay Ridge beat ASA McCarthy 2-0.
GAELS CLIPPED
Andrew Flately (75th) scored for Astoria Gaels in a 2-1 loss to Metro Div. Two opponents S.C. Eintracht at the Metropolitan Oval. Steven Kotiza (28th) and Peter Maris (40th) tallied for Eintracht, who played with ten men for 80 minutes after an injury.
ZENIT ZAPPED
Greg Hanffou made a stunning debut for EMC with a hat-trick in a4-1 pasting of Zenit at Southern Fields. Chris Fugelsang had the other goal.
GOTHAM BLITZ
Gotham Argo saw off FC Partizani 4-1 at Verazzano with three quick second half goals in the first of two back-to-back meetings. Partizani’s Elton Lalaj had canceled out Darran “Magoo” Cronshaw’s opener for Gotham before half time when the fireworks began. Ronnie Swinkels, Cronshaw again and midfielder Ben Bernard blew Partizani away.
Wary of a Partizani backlash when they clash again this weekend, Swinkels said: “We should be cautious as I am sure Partizani is looking for revenge.”
SWINKELS’ DOUBLE
Gotham’s skipper, Swinkels was outstanding on the day. He later turned out for the club’s Over-30s, Argo Silver, and exchanged goals with Central Park Rangers’ Mike Conboy in a 1-all tie.
Also in Metro Div. Two, Cesar Gonzalez had Barnstonworth Rovers’ consolation in a 4-1 loss to NY’s Finest at Newtown High School.
GOTTSCHEE EFFORT
Later at Newton High, Juan Lopez and Mario Mercado scored early in the first half for ten-man BW Gottschee in a 2-1 win over Over-30 rivals Barnstonworth Rovers.
SILVER BOOM
Silver Lake came out firing on all cylinders at Verazzano and put nine past Over-30 rookies Pele in return for one.
Sinan Selmani and Alan Cantillo each struck twice; with Phil Esposito, Goni Lazoja, Tico Amador, John Lia and the day’s assist leader Nicola Cirrincione (three) each adding one apiece.
The CSL’s other club that carries the name of the Brazilian legend, Pele Masters, run off 3-1 winners against Barnstonworth Premier at Kaiser Park.
MIGHTY EINTRACHT
M-hmad Ata maintained S.C. Eintracht’s unbeaten record this season with a 9th minute clincher against Guyana Veterans ‘A’.
“We pressed so much we should have at least four in the first half,” said John Steigerwald.
First Division East leaders Eintracht (8-0-2, 26) are the only undefeated side in the Over-30 section. And they’re just one of two teams in the entire CSL [Pancyprian’s reserves are the other] yet to lose this campaign.
KICKERS CRUMBLE
Manhattan Kickers, the Division One West frontrunners, stumbled out of the gates at Floyd Bennett Field.
Paul Cowler and Jeff Saunders scored in a 6-2 drubbing by New York Dinamo.
GREEK-FEST
At Brooklyn Tech, New York Greek-American/Atlas hammered RTG 6-1 on goals by Stelios Stylianou (two), Xenofon Eftimiadis (two), Klitos Papadopoulos and Dimitris Balesis.
VETERAN ROB
Rob Gretton had the solitary goal at Floyd Bennett Field where New York Croatia edged Odyssey.
DOUBLE DAN
Daniel Krygier had both S.C. Gjoa goals in a 5-2 defeat by GH Metros, while Westchester FC came up one short despite strikes by Erik Donis, George and Pablo Diaz in 4-3 loss to Maltese.
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