February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
By Jay Mwamba
John Guildea’s first-half penalty at Downing Stadium last Sunday swept holders Shamrock S.C. past Fairfield/Westchester United and into the semifinals of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League Cup.
The veteran midfielder’s 23rd-minute spot kick turned out to be the decider in a tightly contested affair that ended with Shamrock posting an encore 1-0 victory over their First Division rivals. Shamrock had edged Fairfield by the same score at Downing Stadium seven days earlier.
"It seems as though we can’t beat the luck of the Irish," said Fairfield player Matt Miller, whose side hit the bar twice in the first half.
"They had the edge in possession but couldn’t break down our defense," said Shamrock striker Ray Elsesser, who singled out skipper Robbie Walsh and player-coach Paul Wilson for shoring up the defense.
Shamrock, however, rose to the occasion when it mattered most. Johan Lannon was brought down in the penalty box after being put through by Aidan Walsh and Guildea made no mistake from the spot.
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Shamrock, who defeated New York Albanians on penalties in last year’s League Cup final, will now face Banatul in the semis.
Banatul knocked out Second Division Ukrainian S.C. 4-2 at the Con Edison Field in Long Island City, despite a strong finish by the latter, who fielded two players older than 50.
Murat Ohanian and Zoru Ardelean each put two goals past 52 year-old goalie John Sabaliauskas to give Banatul a 4-0 lead midway through the second half, but Harvey Bertrand and coach Steve Kovalenko, who’s 53, made it respectable with strikes down the stretch.
Saunders Cup
Earlier at Downing Stadium, Dennis O’Boyle had netted the only goal of the match in the Shamrock Reserves’ 1-0 victory over New York Greek-American/Atlas in the Harry Saunders Cup quarterfinals.
O’Boyle connected in the second half of a scrappy game, finishing off a flick on from a corner by Kevin Brennan.
At Travers Island, the St. Barnabas Reserves’ Saunders Cup run ended with a 7-1 shellacking at the hands of New York Athletic Club’s second team. Sean O’Flynn got the Barnabas face-saver.
Saints thrashed
St. Barnabas bore the wrath of New York Dinamo’s ire after a League ruling docked the former First Division leaders nine points last Monday. The Saints were crashed 6-3 by Dinamo at St. John’s University.
Tony Camaj (15th, 60th), Mured Ibrahimov (40th, 70th), Frankie Curanovic (55th) and Victor Curanovic (59th) led the Dinamo assault.
The loss was a setback to the Saints’ title hopes, which are now more mathematical than anything else. St. Barnabas (7-5-1, 22) have to win all five remaining games to lift the championship.
In the Second Division, Lansdowne Bhoys Reserves were a no-show for their league encounter with Barnstonworth Rovers, resulting in a 2-0 loss via forfeiture.
NYAC ousted
Second Division Koha set up a League Cup semifinal date with New York Hungaria after crushing CSL champs New York Athletic Club 5-1 at Erasmus High School.
Qazim Hakramaj (5th, 15th), David Adzovic (35th), Fatso Selimi (58th) and Nikolla Gjokaj (70th) tallied against shorthanded NYAC.
Said coach Ronan Downs, who missed the game: "We knew we would be in trouble. We started with nine players, went up to 10, then finished with eight after Nick Philips and Andre Parris were injured."
Iberia express
Goals by Ruben Flores and Anthony Russo propelled Second Division (East) pacesetters CD Iberia to a 2-0 decision over New York Wanderers at Randalls Island. Iberia, whose rivals won 5-1, are now three points clear at the top (10-2-2, 32).
Second-placed S.C. Eintracht (29) dropped two vital points in a goalless tie with Manhattan Kickers at the Verazzano Sports Complex.
"We can’t win it on our own," Eintracht coach Wolfgang Radermacher admitted. "We need help, but we also need to win our two games."
Checkmate
Undefeated Third Divisions giants Ridgewood and Guyana Juniors battled to a 3-all tie in their top-of-the-table clash at Grover Cleveland High School in Maspeth. Bichi Dumitru (3rd), Dan Ciabuca (10th), and Edward Catalin (30th) were on target for Ridgewood, while Roger Benjamin, Kester Darlington and Reynold Silas replied for Guyana.
"The heat really killed us. Our boys were dehydrated and couldn’t run," said Ridgewood boss Yani Anton Enache, whose club (41) leads Guyana on goal difference.
SICJA scorcher
Shin Furutate (4th, 8th), and Kei Kinjo (75th), starred in third-placed SICJA’s 3-0 Third Division romp over Chile FC at Randalls Island.
"It was really tough game because of the hot weather. But we maintained our motivation to win during the game," observed SICJA official Ken Suzuki.
Also at Randalls, Sunnyside Genclik (32) outplayed fellow Turks Krimean Turkish 4-1 to stay fourth, five points behind SICJA.
Cem Sahin (two), Onder Koksol, and Salih Cirkirca were the Sunnyside scorers. Ali Gul bagged Krimean’s consolation goal.
Hat-trick hero
Ian McLean’s trey in a 3-3 draw with Jam’s at Randalls salvaged a point for Third Division mid-table occupants B.W. Gottschee (18). Kaname Hsunuma (two) and Tokoro hit back for Jam’s.
In other Third Division results, O’Neil (three), Orhan and Hasan shot Anatolia to a 5-3 victory over CD Iberia, while Greg Betz’ 22nd effort earned Solas a 1-all tie with Brooklyn Stars.
Over-30s
Scala Brasil beat New York Pancyprians 2-0 on Anderson’s brace, while Serbia forfeited their match with S.C. Einracht.