By Jay Mwamba

In a stunning upset in the CSL top flight last Sunday, promotion side New York Croatia came from two goals down to humble Pancyprian Freedoms 3-2 at St. John’s University.

It looked grim for the Croats when Pancyprian came flying out of the blocks, courtesy of Julio Cesar Santos [10th] and Nick Katsanos [25th].

But the visitors soon found their rhythm and pulled one back when namesakes Marvin Pollard and Marlon Anderson combined for the latter to connect before the break.

Croatia continued to attack in the second half and leveled when Marko Loncar slotted home a David Siljanovski cross.

Their creativity and relentless pressure led to several other chances including a shot off the post.

Anderson finally clinched the winner off a Chris Karzc pass, consigning Pancyprian to their first defeat in the process.

“What a game!” exclaimed Tommy Radalj. “It takes the sting [out of] Croatia not qualifying for the World Cup.”

CSL’s Croatia improved to 2-1-2 [8 pts], good enough for second place in First Division [West]. Pancyprian [3-1, 9] slipped out of first place in the East as a result of the loss.

Pancyprian’s reserves won 4-2 on goals by Angelo Zisimatos, Giovani, Petar and Kostas Polydefkis.

ATLAS HELD
Brian Kuritzky’s late free kick snatched a 1-1 draw for New York Athletic Club against New York Greek-American/Atlas at Cardoza High School.

It canceled out Patrick Figueriredo’s opener [60th] for the defending champions. The point elevated NYAC [3-0-1, 10] into first place in the East.

“It was one of those games where [if] you don’t take advantage of your chances then it comes back to haunt you,” said Atlas’ George Mellis, whose side [3-0-2, 11] leads the West.

NYAC coach Michael Coughlin said it was an even game but noted the absence of several regulars, including newly wed Ryan Kniepper that meant some players performing double duty.

Among them was heroic goalie Sean Stevenson.

NYAC’s reserves crashed 3-0.

JOLLY RANGERS
Central Park Rangers hammered Stal Mielec 4-0 at the Metropolitan Oval to make it two straight wins in the First Division.

Kwesi Mills Odoi, Caesar Lopez, Dave Briefel and Eli Vovsha connected.

“We came out a bit flat against a battling Stal team, but claimed the win from four very well taken strikes,” said manager Yuval Lion.

CPR’s in-form ex-NFLer “Famous” Amos Zereoue got both goals in the reserves’ 2-1 win. Tomasz Gorka replied for Stal.

BHOYS CHECKED
At Tibbets Brook Park, Lansdowne Bhoys twice came from behind to tie Polonia 2-2.

Conor Hunter had the assist on Kurt Smith’s first half leveler [35th] then salvaged a point for the Bhoys from the spot [70th] after Tommy Smyth was fouled.

“Three points lost,” rued Paul “Doc” Doherty. “We were all over them but couldn’t finish.”

In the curtain-raiser, Austrian striker Thomas Hallzer earned Man of the Match honors for his brace [15th, 44th] in a 2-all draw.

CELTIC STREAK
Slawek Balon [5th] and Rob Webber [15th] struck early to steer Manhattan Celtic’s reserves to a 2-1 win over Manhattan Kickers at Pier 40.

Kickers’ Scott Conti [30th] scored a penalty but with Celtic goalie Karim Ahmed in top form, the home side held on to secure their second straight victory.

Said Celtic’s John Tanios: “I’m very happy with our display in defense and attack. All players gave one hundred percent and we deserved to win.”

The first team game ended goalless.

HOT CD
Meyo Beskovic’s solitary goal against Pythagoras Samos at Icahn Stadium kept Second Division leaders CD Iberia two points ahead of Shamrock.

Iberia’s seconds also prevailed 1-0, thanks to a Rob Lugris penalty.

SHAMROCK EXPRESS
Shamrock, they blanked EMC 2-0 at Mercy College for their fourth straight victory.

Shawn Baron, with a fierce header from an Andy Horan cross [48th], and Paul Shields [64th] tallied for the Irishmen [4-0-1, 13].

“The guys played some good football. It’s another three points,”
said coach Robbie Walsh.

SHIELDS DOUBLE
Paul Shields’ goal for the first team was his second on the day after striking earlier for the chart-topping reserves in a 6-3 romp.

Kristan Fosholt [6th], Duckie Kelly [20th], Shawn Duda [30th], Karl Hughes [67th] and Dave Bloomfield [90th pen.] also connected.

Michael Nass [50th, 62nd] and Serge Augn [75th] scored for EMC.

TURKEY SHOOT
Josh Fischer notched a hat trick in New York Fury’s 5-0 trouncing of Turkish American on Randalls Island.

Dan Cohen and Ryan Overdevest got the other goals.

UKRAINIANS THWARTED
Hiroaki Tomioka’s last gasp penalty for FC Japan denied New York Ukrainians their first win of the season after a 2-2 draw at McCarren Park.

Still, Ukrainians broke their scoring duck through David Alkasim [35th] and Mike Gjoni [40th]. The latter shot Steve Kovalenko’s men ahead after Alkasim had pegged back Takao Nakasuji’s club-high fifth goal.

“We’re coming along,” said Kovalenko, while giving props to Japan.

The visitors were without ace striker Yuya Hamada and powerful defender Keita Hanyuda.

Christopher Norelli, Iryney Makarukha and Igor Tomyn scored for the Ukrainians reserves in a 3-3 tie.

REDS PIPPED
Ciaran Friel [two] and Rafael Dalglish were on target in Central Park Rangers 4-3 loss to Ridgewood Romac at Evander Childs High School.

“They had more quality than us on the day,” the Reds’ Paul Sewards conceded.

His reserves won 4-2 thanks to Bola Adeeko [two], Ugo Solinas and “Big T.”

VVNA TIE
Ten-man VV Nieuw Amsterdam dropped two vital points in Metro Div. One when Astoria Lions struck a stoppage time equalizer in a 2-all draw on Randalls Island.

The division leaders led 2-1 on Darran Cronshaw’s brace when C.P. de Vera was dismissed for a second yellow card. Lions equalized in the last minute of added time.

“We were the ones who stole the result last year, so maybe it’s fitting they got us in the same way this year,” said de Vera,” after apologizing for his dismissal.

SPORTING EFFORT
Mr. Dennehy’s Andres Sole [55th] and Sporting Astoria midfielder Brad Benz [75th] exchanged goals in a 1-1 draw at Greenbelt Recreational Center.

“They played very well, the draw was fair,” said Astoria’s Ed Romero.

Dennehy’s boss, Ronan Gardiner agreed. “A tie was probably the fairest result after a very competitive game,” he said.

ALBANIAN DERBY
Later at Greenbelt, the Albanian derby between FC Partizani and Korabi also ended in a 1-all tie.

Donald Pepa’s 35-yard free kick took a slight deflection from teammate Arlind Telegrafi for Partizani’s leveler in the first half.

METRO TWO
Vhe Boyajian [88th] was the hero in Homenetmen’s 1-1 tie with SC Eintracht at the Met Oval.

Carlos Leal scored for Eintracht who ended the pace-setters’ one hundred percent record. .

“We we’re winning 1-0 and they scored in the last two minutes. Heartbreaker!” moaned Eintracht official Greg Trani.

RTG ROUT
Usually on the receiving end in the Over-30 division, RTG produced a rare rout on Randalls Island, thrashing short-handed Westchester 4-0.

Salah Lakuoad [two], David Pappaceno and Dmitriy Rutitsky tallied.

SUPER KHASANOV
Fakhridin Khasanov, 46, banged in four goals for under-strength Hoboken but still ended on the losing side against Brooklyn Gunners, 6-5 victors.

FUTILE TREY
Barnstonworth Old Boys’ Barry O’Driscoll must have been left with the same forlorn feeling at Grand Street where here netted a hat trick against sister club Barnstonworth Rovers. Old Boys crashed 5-3

“Not happy. I’ll be holding a full enquiry this week!” vowed Dave Sheeran.

SHAMROCK ROMP
Onder Koksol and Mario Angelucci [two] starred in Shamrock’s 3-1 win over SC Gjoa at Dycker Field.

CELTIC SLIP
Tyler Fransen, assisted by David Priego [33rd], had Manhattan Celtic’s lone effort in a 2-1 defeat by Central Park Rangers on Randalls Island.

ALBION FALL
Albion SC failed to build on Kent Bailey’s ice-breaker at Flushing Meadow Park in a 2-1 defeat to NYPD FC.

“A close and hard fought game ended with a deserved win for the NYPD,” said Jason Cyrus, after his club’s first loss of the season.

OFF-SIDE TRAP
And at the Met Oval, depleted SC Eintracht saw their attempts to play the off-side trap ignored by the referee in an 8-2 loss to New York Dinamo at the Met Oval.

Eintracht led 2-1 at the interval but succumbed to injuries and fatigue.

“We had no starting defenders left and the midfield ran out of gas,” said Tommy Strumpf. “Because of our injuries in the back we played the off-side trap and they scored four goals that appeared off-side.”