Results: Firsts 11/25/08 US Open Cup Region Qrt-Final

Olympia ’78 (NESSL) 2 (4) Barnstonworth Rovers F.C. 2 (3)

The Rovers took a step backwards on Tuesday night crashing out of the US Open Cup in the first hurdle on penalties. It was the first time in 4 years that the Rovers lost a match from a team outside the league. The Rovers, too cavalier at times, conceded the equalize in the last minute of regulation, then after the West Indians missed the first penalty, missed 2 of the last 3 to lose the tie.
It should never have come to this. The opposition was a disorganized lesser quality side, that bantered, argued and several times delayed the match, but the malaise of not being able to finish opponents, and keep focus when changes that did not work as planned, hurt the Rovers. Andy thought he had give the Rovers the lead in the first 10 min, but the tap in was called back in the most bizarre manner, the linesman judging the ball has crossed the end line ! A few minutes later, Andy did open the score with a deadly finish. Rovers 1-0.
A long diagonal ball caught the Rover backs flat and allowed the Olympian striker to go on alone and tie the score. Rovers 1-1.
Did not take long for the Rovers to restore their advantage. This time Pugli received a diagonal pass in the box, and slotted it on the turn. Rovers 2-1.
Match should have been over 2 minutes later, when the West Indian sweeper gave the ball to Puglie all alone at the D. He strolled in but unsuccessfully tried to chip the keeper. Then it was Jordi’s ball that found a streaking Randi all alone in front of the goal. Somehow the ball glanced of his head and onto the keeper.
In the 2nd half the Rovers had a lot of room behind the Olympia defense playing for the offsides very high up the field. And as the opposition took chances to get back into the match, the Rovers had chance after chance. Had they been more cautious on their runs they would have easily killed off the match, but, too many times they were caught offsides. Still, they had some remarkable chances. Alex free running into the box chose to pass across it rather than finish. Sam was given the ball inside the six with the keeper on the opposite side of the goal but finished right on him !
As the Rover management averted the Pier 40 management when threatened to cut the match short due to a permit overrun, Olympia started to throw everything forward and their frantic movement disoriented the Rovers sufficiently to lose organization and focus. In the last minute their forward latched on to an unnecessary rebound and equalized.
The Rovers have not won a penalty shoot out since …..well… I cannot recall the last time they did.
The streak did not end Tuesday, even after Olympia missed the first kick.

Team: Dave Borchard, Sam Wiggin, Vidar Ekehaug, Randi Lee, Andy Abramovits, Einar Benedktsson, Colin Marshall, Jordan Chirico, Oren Nhaissi, Alfonzo Nanclares, Alex Cruz. Subs (all played) Sam Minaya, Austin Harris