Cosmopolitan League

Standings, results and other stats

The relegation battle in Division Two will come to the wire this weekend with Irish clubs Manhattan Celtic and Astoria Gaels both in must-win situations in their respective season finales.

Celtic succumbed 3-2 to FC Japan at the Verrazano Sports Complex last Sunday, a result that saw them drop two places. They go into their biggest match of the season third from the bottom with 19 points (5-6-4).
Ian Woodcock’s men need full points against NIFA this Sunday to secure their future in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League’s (CSL) Second tier.

Gaels, off last weekend, are a point behind in second last place (5-7-3) but can escape the drop at Celtic’s expense if beat the Japanese on Sunday and Celtic fail to win.

LATE RALLY
Celtic came up a goal short against a Japanese side that has hit a rich vein of form since May, during which they’ve gone undefeated in the CSL.
A lull midway through the first half cost the visitors dearly after Rob Alexander (20th) had canceled out Keita Hanyuda’s early goal (5th) for Japan.

Yuichiro Nukada (25th) and skipper Tomohiro Tsuchiya (40th) then put Celtic in a 3-1 hole going into the break, prompting a fight-back by the visitors on resumption.

It took just five minutes for Argentine Andres Vacarezza to pull one back, but that all important equalizer eluded Celtic.
“We came out a lot stronger in the second half but we couldn’t get the win,” said Woodcock, a native of Bray in Ireland.

“We were able to capitalize on the game early in the first half, and that set a positive tempo,” said Japan boss Tosh Tatezawa, whose side claimed fourth place (6-6-3, 21) ahead of NIFA and Koha on goal difference.

“Even after they made an equalizer, we made an excellent effort to make two additional goals in the first half,” he added.
And in a warning to their next opponents, Gaels, Tatezawa noted: “In the months of May and June, we haven't lost a game yet, so we will try to maintain this streak and hope to win the last match of the season.”
“We must win our next match to survive,” stressed Gaels’ Gerry O’Brien.

GAELS PREAMBLE
In a preamble to the upcoming Gaels-Japan clash, the two clubs’ reserves met at Verrazano last Sunday with Japan prevailing 4-2.
Graham (20th) and Stephen “Georgie” Doyle (80th) connected for the Gaels seconds while Kimihiru Obaka (two), Higuchi and Ken Suzuki shot Japan to victory.

MET THRILLER
NIFA, SC Ukrainians’ erstwhile reserve side that broke away last year to remain in the Division Two while Steve Kovalenko’s outfit slid to Metro Div. 1, has all but assured its return next season following an exciting 4-4 tie with Banatul.
Philip Roche, with a brace, and Peterson Jackson were among the heroes at the Metropolitan Oval as NIFA came from 2-0 down to earn its biggest point in the league so far.
NIFA joined Japan and Koha on the 21-point mark, albeit with a better goal average than the latter.

WINNING NOTE
Nerim Lulanaj hit a second half hat trick (60th, 68th, 80th) in a 3-1 romp over Central Park Rangers ‘Red’ at Verrazano as Koha ended their season in the Second Division on a winning but nervy note.
Because of their minus 14 goal differential, Omer Hakramaj and Co. (6-7-3, 21) will now hold their collective breath hoping that either Manhattan Celtic or Gaels come up short this Sunday.
If both win, Koha will be relegated to Metro Div. 1.

RARE VICTORY
Kyle Gregory (50th, 75th) tallied twice as second-from-the-bottom ASA McCarthy posted a rare victory, 4-2 over BW Gottschee at Queens Children’s Hospital.
Jon Davidson (55th) and Davan Vynne (85th) accounted for the other goals in McCarthy’s penultimate Metro Div. 1 fixture.
McCarthy triumphed only for the third time this season. Their previous wins were 6-0 over last place Bergen Kickers on April 4 and 2-1 over Clarkstown in September last year.

ROCKS CLOSE IN
Shamrock could scoop the Metro Div. II (East) title and earn promotion to Metro Div. 1 if they beat SC Eintracht in their last game of the season, at the Metropolitan Oval this Sunday (kick-off 9 am).
This is after the Rocks picked up another three points without a sweat last Sunday when Partizani FC forfeited last weekend’s scheduled fixture at Wards Island.

Shamrock (8-3-4, 28) moved to within three points of first place New York City Infinity All Stars who completed the season with 31 points from ten wins, five losses and one draw.
“If we win (Sunday) we’ll win the division title,” said Sean Keogh. “We’re three points behind (Infinity) and have a better goal difference.”

WANDERERS TROUNCED
Mauro Servisi was on target for New York Wanderers in a
4-1 loss to CD Iberia, in a battle between Metro Div. II’s last place sides at Randalls Island.

SPLIT DECISION
Westchester United blew a 2-0 half time lead in a 2-all tie with BW Gottschee at Queens Children’s Hospital.
Mario Mercado scored during a goalmouth scramble on the hour and then slotted home a penalty 15 minutes to earn Gottschee a share of the points from the Over-30 fixture.

MASTERFUL PELE
At Verrazano, Joel Wickham and Glendon George both scored twice to steer Pele Masters past Barnstonworth Rovers ‘A’ 4-0.
 

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