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Standings,
results and other stats
A week after falling to arch-rivals Pancyprian Freedom in the
Manning Cup final, Polonia bounced back to clinch the Cosmopolitan
Soccer League’s First Division (East) championship in their
last match of the season.
Jatek Lawniczak’s 68th minute strike sealed a 2-1 decision
over lowly New York Albanians at McCarren Park leaving manager Roman
Gierczak to declare 2006/2007 their “best season in the history
of Polonia FC.”
Six points ahead of Pancyprian who have a game in hand, the Poles
were still on course for the title even after Albanian veteran Naum
Kove had pounced on a howler by the Poles’ towering 6-8 goalie
David Ditrich to cancel out Bartek Pierzerzko’s opener (20th).
A draw would have sufficed but in the end, Polonia’s 11th win
--against four draws and one loss (to Pancyprian) – saw them
conclude a successful campaign with 37 points.
“We’re now waiting for Brooklyn Italians,” barked
the elated Gierczak, alluding to the Western conference titlists
who they’re scheduled to meet in the “Champion of Champions”
playoff to decide the overall CSL titlists.
His talented side withstanding, Gierczak had props for club president
Michael Siwiec.
“Without him nothing would have been possible. He’s
the reason we had such a great season,” the manager said.
The bad news for rest of the league is that Polonia could be back
even stronger next season.
“We’re looking to recruit some more players, ex-pros from
Polonia,” disclosed Gierczak.
HAIL CESAR!
With one game left on his schedule, the Cosmopolitan League’s
best player, Julio Cesar Santos, brought his season tally to an
amazing 30 goals in 20 matches with a neat hat trick in Pancyprian’s
6-0 rout of Lansdowne Bhoys at St. John’s University’s
Da Silva Stadium.
Pete Halkidis, Tasso Polydefkis and Savvas Theofilou were
the scorers in what manager George Halkidis dismissed as “a
pretty easy game.”
It was no mean feat, though, for Julio, whose brace sank Polonia
3-2 in extra time in the Manning Cup final two weeks ago.
The 32 year-old striker, a former pro in his native Brazil where
he honed his deadly skills playing alongside stars such as Ronaldo,
bettered the 27 goals he netted in 23 outings back in 2003-2004.
Julio has thus far notched 135 goals in 121 matches for the Greek-Cypriots
– with the club’s season finale against Manhattan Kickers
looming ahead this weekend.
Says Halkidis of Julio: “His value is beyond words.”
“This year we went through a youth transition – six, and
as many as eight, of the starters were under the age of 21. Julio
is the person they relied on for guidance in the game. He basically
makes it easy for them.
“His finishing is remarkable. At practice sessions you can
see how everybody feeds of his energy. He’s basically our leader
in a very quiet but always very professional way. He will
be with us for as long as he wants to be.”
Julio, who when he’s not terrorizing CSL defenses, imparts
soccer skills as a trainer/coach to three New Jersey sides: Wayne
Soccer Club, Pasco Stallions and Den of Lions in Newark, is amiable
to the latter idea.
“I think that I am coming back next season, - I think so,”
he says. “I like the team. I wanted to make it to the (Champion
of Champions) final and that didn’t happen. But we won the
State Cup once again in a very good game against a good Polonia
team.”
For more on Julio’s coaching, visit: www.soccersa.org
KICKER WARNING
Albanians’ defeat by Polonia left the former champs’ fate
in the top flight hinging on the outcome of the Pancyprian-Manhattan
Kickers clash this Sunday.
The Albanians, second from the bottom in the West (4-10-2, 14) will
stay up if Mike Fitzgerald’s last place Kickers (3-8-4, 13)
fail to beat Julio and Co.
Halkidis is a dispassionate player in the relegation drama and issued
a warning to Kickers.
“We will field our regular team -- it’s a club policy,”
he stated. “I know Manhattan Kickers is fighting relegation but
we must show indifference.”
ROVERS’ CLOSER
Barnstonworth Rovers and CD Iberia, two clubs already assured
of First Division soccer next season, ground out a goalless tie
in their season closer.
Rovers’ reserves prevailed 7-3.
STAYING ALIVE
Manhattan Celtic battled Second Division champions-designate Stal
Mielec to a goalless draw at Chelsea Pier 40, keeping alive their
promotion hopes with two games left.
“We played very well – it was a real battle,” said
player-coach Ian Woodcock.
Celtic (7-3-6, 27) now need a huge favor from FC Japan, 6-4
victors over NIFA last Sunday, to move up. Japan must beat
second place Bulgaria (10-5-2, 32) this weekend while the Celts
gobble up Central Park Rangers and vacationing Astoria Gaels.
METRO ONE TURMOIL
Shamrock edged Sporting Astoria 3-2 at the Verazzano Sports Complex
to end the season undefeated in Metro Div. One West this calendar
year.
But it was all for nought as Ukrainians scooped the title
and promotion to Division Two after picking up six points without
kicking a ball.
Steve Kovalenko’s long-time Brooklyn side campaigners were
awarded points from an unplayed tussle with Guyana Juniors and then
had their ticket back to the second tier stamped when Astoria informed
the league on Monday that they’d forfeit their last match –
against the Ukrainians -- enabling the latter to leapfrog over Shamrock
(10-3-3, 33).
Astoria’s decision was by no means an act of charity but meant
to protest a number of issues, including the physical nature of
their clash with Shamrock and the Guyana-Ukrainian ruling.
At any rate, Alex Jonassen and Jorge Monsalve had Astoria level
with the Irishmen -- whose Matt Schnugg and Paddy Geraghty tallied
– deep in the second half before Brian Houlihan nicked it.
Said Astoria boss Ed Romero after the game:
“We knew how Shamrock play -- its all about the hits with them.
They try to get you out of the game by being physical. We scored
first, looked to be imposing our game but unfortunately we slipped
away from that as time went on.”
EIGHT BALL
Elsewhere in Metro Div. One, Clarkstown thrashed Homenetmen 8-0.
L.I. FADE
Long Island United’s hot streak in the Metro Div. Two lasted
13 matches during which they went 13-0. Then they hit a wall,
tying once and succumbing 3-0 to Frosinone Metro before last weekend’s
4-0 collapse to Mr. Dennehy’s at the Aviator Sports Complex.
Mr. Dennehy’s Mark Heslop (two), Lance Pitterson and Kevin Shaw
saw off United.
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