First Team
Kickers 1st team looked to qualify to the Quarter finals of State Cup against an unknown EDSL Iona team. It did n't take long to realize this team was not ready for Kickers ball movement and continued improved chemistry. Kickers struck in the 5th minute after a corner kick from Gonzalo Trovato resulted in a few rebounds that found Kyle Robinson in front of goal for an easy tap in. 10 minutes later it was a great combination play from Mathias Jorge, who chipped a pass from 20 yards out to find Gonzalo at he PK spot and slot a left footed shot to the right corner of the goal. Brian Morris made the sore 3-0 in the 25th minute after he combined a great one-two pass with Gonzalo, finding him in front of the keeper and similarly to the 1st goal; slotting it to the keepers left side. The game was in cruise control, we moved the ball well, continued to create many chances that if it weren't for their keeper, would have been a very embarrassing score line. In the second half it was more of the same and despite Iona scoring off an uncharacteristic mistake from keeper Mo Keita, Kickers dominated possession and had countless chances from FX Thiollere, Alexis Bustillo, Rasmus Morgensen as well as Brian Morris and Andres Botero. Mathias finished them off from the spot after FX T was fouled in the box in the 60th minutes; final score 4-1.
Second Team
Reserves dropped a heartbreaker due to mental lapses and Williamsburg playing with three first team players in key positions (goalkeeper, center back and center mid). Despite still being the better team for the majority of the game, a cheap penalty given away early put undue pressure onto the Kickers. They handled it well, with Tommy Herlihy winning the ball in Williamsburg's defensive third and powering a smart finish drawing things even. The Kickers proceeded to pepper the box with shots and crosses but were only sharp enough and technical enough on the day to hit the post, crossbar and keeper with efforts. Williamsburg then capitalized off of a mental lapse that lead to a 2 on 2 in the back. Both defenders dove in and with the goal gaping the Williamsburg captain turned the ball past a hapless Marc Meny.
Over-40 Legends
ickers Legends managed to cobble together the thinnest of squads against the NY Greek Americans. With only 10 regular rostered players available, the call was made to bring out of retirement former Legends Keeper Guillermo Cecchi to face the Greeks with a full team. Unlike the last game however, the Greeks were a strengthened side, with addition of younger, fitter, barely 40, players from their reserve squad.
For the first half, with the wind in their face, Kickers struggled to get out of their own half, and the Greeks were closer to scoring. Guillermo reacted like a 30 year old to deny one Greek striker’s point blank shot that looked like a certain goal. Then Eddie sustained a bleeding nose/face from a awkward collision between Guillermo, a Greek striker, and the ball, and was sent to the sidelines by the referee until a kind passerby offered a bandaid to staunch the bleeding. Growing into the game, and adjusting for the wind, Kickers began to take the game to the Greeks and Dan had a chance to give Kickers the lead when he was put through to goal but his shot went past the post.
In the second half, with the wind on their backs, Kickers played a high press that kept the Greeks camped in their own half. But the minutes were ticking away and as AJ’s 30 yard shot grazed the top left corner, the game looked headed to penalty kicks. But a 75thminute counter-attack found Slover all alone facing the keeper, and Slover slotted home calmly. Greeks pressed and almost got an equalizer with a dangerous low shot into a packed box, but Guillermo managed to dive, and hold the ball as well, at the feet of the waiting Greek striker. As Legends weathered the Greek attacks, another counter, in the 85thminute, found Scotti in the same position as Slover, and he, in turn, calmly went around the scrambling keeper to ensure qualification. MVP – Guillermo! Honorable mentions for the goal scorers Slover and Scott.
Over-30 Premier
Over-30 Premier were eliminated from the State Cup in the last round and were off this weekend.