UNIONDALE, NY – The club’s first team (2-4-4, 10 points) fell to the Long Island Rough Riders (4-1-2, 14 points) on Wednesday night from Hofstra University’s soccer stadium, by a score of 4-1. The first team still ranks within the top five of the Mid-Atlantic Division despite the loss. For the Rough Riders, the team has improved their overall record to 4-1-1 over FA Euro all time. Long Island now has sole possession of second place within their respective division, due to Lehigh Valley being taken down by the Cedar Stars Rush this evening.
Coming off a come-from-behind emotional victory over the Lehigh Valley United on Saturday evening in Brooklyn, the first team currently is looking to build upon the momentum that they created at Poly Prep. Entering the contest with 10 points, sitting just a single victory out of second place in the Mid-Atlantic Division, defender Kalley Muntaha returned to the 18-man roster in time for a crucial showdown, on the road. While concluding their sixth home contest in just the first seven matches of the 2019 season, the Long Island Rough Riders had plans to spoil Muntaha’s return, along with putting a damper on the plans for head coach Joe Balsamo to rise further on the divisional ladder. The home team would strike first with a Matthew Sloan ice-breaker to open the contest, at the 7’ minute mark.
Being punched first, usually means to respond, or fight back. For the first team, they have been remarkable in responding to goals following an opposition goal. A pass up the wing from Alexis Santa to Conor McGlynn, had given the Siena Saints product the ability to go one on one with a defender for the Rough Riders, then to find striker Filippo Tamburini for the one-timer directly past goalkeeper Andrew Withers for the equalizer at the 13’ minute mark.
Following the goals scored by each respective team in the first half, the Brooklyn-Long Island rivalry became apparent, as tensions became to rise on both sides of the field. Forward Filippo Tamburini was shown a straight-red card ejection due to an intentional “kicking-motion” to a Long Island defender. This series of unfortunate events for the first team, gave life to the Rough Riders, as Matt Sloan would net the go-ahead goal just three minutes prior to the half coming to a close, to put his squad ahead by one.
The remainder of the final 45 included injury, plus one-sided soccer. Ten minutes into the second half, defender Tim Estermann netted one home from 20 yards out to put Long Island ahead by a pair at the 59’ minute of competition. On the ensuing possession for the first team, captain and defender Johan Mauritzson fell to the ground, due to a lower-body injury (hamstring). Mauritzson would be replaced by goalkeeper Andrew Pereira, who showed sportsmanship and played a different position in lieu of his captain. The final goal would be scored by the aforementioned Matt Sloan, who secured the hat-trick in the 63’ minute of play.
UP NEXT:
The club’s first team travels to New Jersey for three of their final four contests as they head south to face the Ocean City Nor’easters on Sunday, June 23. The match is slated to kick-off for 7:00 p.m. at Carey Stadium on the campus of Ocean City High School.