After a long break between games, FA Euro New York traveled down I-78 to take on Lehigh Valley United Sunday evening at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, PA. FA Euro's last game was a 4-1 loss to Reading FC, where FA Euro struggled to get anything going offensively. On the other hand, Lehigh Valley was coming off a 2-1 win in their game yesterday vs Evergreen FC.
It was the season debut for keeper Matt Dabrowski who plays for Northeastern University at the collegiate level. Both Dabrowski and Lehigh Valley keeper Cameron Keys remained relatively inactive as both teams struggled to get things going offensively.
Then, in the 23’ minute, Lehigh valley had an opportunity to score, but Mickey George’s cross went right into the hands of Euro’s Dabrowski. FA Euro countered with a few opportunities of their own, but Lehigh Valley’s Keys was always there to make the save. In the 29’ minute, defenseman Leo Folla dribbled through Lehigh Valley and into the box before his shot ricocheted off the post and out of play.
In the 37’ minute Lehigh Valley’s forward Kazari Trought had a great opportunity to put his team on the scoreboard, but his shot went wide left. In the following minute, Trought had another opportunity from inside the box, but Euro’s Leo Folla blocked the shot and possibly saved a goal.
FA Euro struck first in the 43’ minute, scoring their first goal of the game. The goal was scored by forward Charlie Ledula, his first of the season, who said he just worked on “being at the right place at the right time.” The goal came off the assist from Zhurabek Khusanboev. Ledula had a breakaway in the 44’ minute, but Cameron Keys made the terrific play and saved Ledula’s shot. FA Euro went into the half leading 1-0.
Lehigh Valley came out of halftime looking to tie the game, but FA Euro’s Dabrowski made the save on the shot from Jason Rocha. In the 54’ minute, FA Euro struck back when Charlie Ledula found Alexis Santa, who chipped the ball over Cameron Keys to extend their lead to 2.
In the 69’ minute, Charlie Ledula beat Lehigh Valley’s Cameron Keys, but it was Nico Anderson who put the ball in the net. The referee called Anderson offside, and the FA Euro bench went wild. While FA Euro was arguing the call, Lehigh Valley struck back on the counter with a goal of their own. A 3 on 1 attack from Lehigh Valley saw Jason Rocha score to shrink Euro’s lead to 1.
In the 89’ minute, FA Euro had a free kick opportunity from just outside the 18-yard line. The kick from Juan David Dominguez bounced off the top of the wall and just over the crossbar. Lehigh Valley had a few opportunities to tie the game in extra time, but Euro’s Dabrowski came up big and won his first start as a member of FA Euro.
FA Euro’s season continues on Wednesday when they cross the bridge into New Jersey to take on New York Red Bulls U23. Follow all the updates on our Facebook and Twitter pages.