Success has not been too kind for the PDL first team (1-7-0) this season, as the Evergreen Hammers (0-6-1) head north to play FA Euro on Friday evening at 8:00pm from Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn.
The previous game for the first team included chippy play from both sides of the Rough Riders and FA Euro. A lone goal from former first team player Charlie Ledula was the deciding factor in the previous game in Uniondale. The loss sent the first team to their seventh loss of the 2018 PDL season. Captain Johan Mauritzon sounded off on his costly mistake to I-95 in a phone interview, "Of course it is never fun when a mistake costs your team a goal. But every game is a new game and its important to be able to forget about certain things in order to be able to move forward."
Midfielder Robi Sillah was activated into the lineup for the first time since the second game of the season, where he was suspended five games for allegedly spitting on a Red Bulls player. He entered the game in the 53' minute and made an immediate impact according to Head Coach Ferdinando de Matthaeis. " [Robi] Sillah is one of our most talented players. We missed his performace for almost half the season because of an unfair red card [against the Red Bulls]. Hopefully he will help us score goals during the remainder of this season, so we can finish the finish in the most honorable way."
In a battle between two teams vying to stay out of the Mid-Atlantic Conference basement, this contest means a whole lot. The veterans of this team, Johan Mauritzon, Leo Folla, and the Marcu brothers have played against Evergreen, who they have had lots of success against in the past. Could this win be a guarantee? Or a no brainer? "There are no "no-brainer" victories in this group, and this league overall." Head Coach de Matthaeis sounded off to I-95 Sports Network yesterday.
A season ago began with a victory that opened up what could have been a winning season for the first team against the same Evergreen FC. They have since changed their name to the Evergreen Hammers beginning this season. Jason Lampkin and Johan Mauritzon scored the opening goals, along with Conor McGlynn in the home match on the opposite end of the season at St. John's, that resulted in a draw. Defender Alejandro del Cura has not played in the PDL longer than a month. Meeting Evergreen for the first time has the 6'2 Spaniard quite excited, but curious. "To be honest, I don't know a lot about [Evergreen], so I think that trying to show the best version of us would be the key to win this game for sure!
Join us on Friday night from Aviator Sports and Events Center. Tickets are $10 at the gate. Can't attend in Brooklyn? We have you covered on the official TV home of FA Euro. I-95 Sports Network will carry the coverage for you on i95sportsnetwork.com. Eric Cordova and Ben Marcu will have the call from Brooklyn beginning at 8:00pm.