Contributed by Steven Torres
Jacksonville Armada FC and Miami FC 2 of National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) advanced to the second round of 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday evening, after posting shut out victories over Sima Águilas of Premier Development League (PDL) and United States Adult Soccer Association’s Red Force FC, respectively.
In a game that was all but over no sooner than it began and harkened back to the 7-0 NYRB win at Yankee Stadium, the home team was dominant. It was 2-0 minutes in ending 4-0 and it was not that close. The winners came out with such high energy keeping the visitors back on their heels and never looked back. This may have served as the coming out party for Kaku as he drew first blood with his third goal and assisted on the next just 2 minutes later then on the goal by BWP half an hour after that.
With a goal in the last 3 minutes of regular time, The Canadian team beat the previously undefeated at home Penn FC. Colin Falvey put away the ball following a corner but it was not without controversy as the Penn back stop took a blow to the back putting him to the ground, as Colin brought the ball in and into the goal gk Lewis was trying to recover. Ottowa did play a strong game, hitting the framework twice. Penn FC surged in the attack for the balance of the game, but the visitors packed the box and got their initial win of the season.
From NJ, former stalwart on the USMNT, Peter Vermes is now tied to the club for another 5 years. stating, "I am extremely thankful for the opportunity to continue to lead this club. Our ownership group has shown trememdous ambition over the last decade, and I am proud to be involved in a first-class organization that continues to grow and evolve at Sporting KC." Sporting Club Co-0wner, Mike Illig added, "This is a great day for Sporting Kansas CIty.
Behind the best backstop of 2017, Long Islander Tim Melia and former NYCFC player Khiry Shelton KC is now alone atop the Western COnference by 4 points. Peter Vermes rumored last yer to being upstairs now has his 150th win with KC and his name is still knocking around for the USMNT HC position.
By the #'s. KC listed first:
Shots: 24 & 10
Shots on Goal: 7 & 2
Saves: 2 & 4
Fouls: 15 & 18
Offisides:1 & 2
Corners 4 & 2
Photo source, NYCOSMOS.COM
Contributed by Steven Torres
Brooklyn Italians SC defeated visiting New York Cosmos B, 3:2, during the play-in round of the 2018 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, at LIU-Brooklyn Athletic Facility on Sunday evening.
The former Open Cup winners (1979, 1991), Brooklyn Italians earned its first win in history against Cosmos B during the oldest cup competition in the U.S.
Down 2-0 into the 2nd half, at 60 minutes Kevin Ellis got the home team within one. The Fire held a 2nd half possession advantage at 60%, a highly overrated stat for me and they got off several half chances yet none equated to one goal. Just 9 minutes into the game, Nikoli beat ATL GK Guzan low to the back post but a heady defensive clearance by Michael Parkhust, with a goal line block. At 53 minutes the deadlock was broken by Ezuquiel Barco fed by Miguel Almiron as it went in off the crossbar from just 6 yards.
Penn FC with a familar flavor having former NY Cosmos players, Harri Hawkins, Richard Menjivar, Salvatore Barone and Lucky Mkosana look to continue after their first 3 points of the season were earned Friday facing even more familiar faces on the Rowdies side with Leo Fernendes, Hunter Gorskie and Sebastian Guenzatti. The 6:30 p.m. kickoff today is part of 3 games in five days, opened with a 3-0 win with the former team of coach Raoul Voss.
Coming back from a 1-0 defecit with 8 scant minutes to go, NC, behind the goal by McCall Zerboni evened it up. Now sitting atop the league with a record of 5-0-2, their 17 points are a great start to the season. Long Island favorite, NC HC Paul Riley stated " I'm happy with the group. I thought we played really well today and just have to build from that." With 42 shots, 15 being on frame it is a wonder more goals did not come, 7 shots in the opening half as the Red Stars had but one.
This standout player for the USWNT and NWSL had sat for the game on April 18 and is now cleared to play as she had on April 21. She had used a prescribed acne medication for what she described as her "persistent skin condition" and now has been issued a Theraputic Use Exemption (TUE) for the medicine. This public warning by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, USADA, has been accepted by the defensive stalwart for failing to get the TUE in advance of using this treatment that is banned in absence of a TUE.
