N.Y. Albanians 1 Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 3

After a last minute 2 hour kick-off time change, not particularly an unprecedented Albanian’s trick, the Rovers took the field, took charge and left with the 3 points. The went ahead at the 10 min mark. A quick restart from a midfield free kick, caught the Albanians unprepared, Andy threaded the ball to Pugli who slotted it home for his second goal of the season. Rovers 1-0.

Aaron, making his 1^st team return, made it 2 at the half hour. Musa received the ball in the attacking 3^rd, he turned a led Aaron on the far side. He collected, sprinted in the area and effortlessly tucked under the keeper. Rover 2-0.

The match was effectively ended when Tamu was fouled from behind at the left sideline, a caution-able offense that became a sending off when the Albanian captain blasted the dead ball at Tamu’s midsection. Kudos to the gutsy ref who did not flinch at the least hospitable venue in the league.

Not surprisingly given the history of Albanian’s many late comebacks vs the Rovers, they came out for the 2^nd half better prepared and even with 10 men dominated the midfield for 20 minutes. And although he was largely contained during free play, their brilliant #10 – Mario, after turning on his marker, hit an instantaneous tremendous strike from 25 meters to beat Broach. Rovers 2-1.

Then, he hit a free-kick from 30 out that Broach did very well to tip for a corner. Earlier in the match, he had a curling free kick from outside the area that rattled the post before Broach got his face to parry it.

The Rovers did not panic. They took control of the tempo and started to posses the ball much better than in the later stages of last week’s contest. On the 70 min they restored their 2 goal lead. Pugli attacking from the left optimistically played a ball in the back of the Albanian defense. Musa out-sprinted the sweeper and although he was second to the ball, he fought them off, cut to the goal, out-paced everyone, dribbled around the keeper for a classy finish. Rovers 3-1.

The Rovers should have made it 4 on when Andy made a perfectly weighted cross from a difficult angle by the corner to find Pugli unmarked in the 6, but his finish was high.

And Tamu could have again have a go at it alone in the closing stages but he decide to pass to an offside player.

As for man of the match award, it would go to Scott, not so much for his performance, but for his courage to be able to complete a 2 hour wait, then 90 min with food poisoning (even though on his ride home he was not so fortunate…).

A real test for the Rovers next Sunday at McCarren park versus an unbeaten revitalized Polonia.

Team: Dave Borchard, Mark Kushemba, Eoin Quane, John Salvucci, Bazza O’Driscoll, Aaron Samulcek, Scott Leber, Tamu Bowen, Andy Abramovits, Stephen Pugliese, Musa Shannon. Subs (all played) Dixon Hayes, Alfonzo Nanclares, Stash Rutkowski