Another 48-hours, another 12-goal blitz by red-hot Lansdowne Yonkers.
In a repeat of the previous week’s explosive exploits, the Bhoys played twice in two days winning by 8-0 and 4-0 score lines against FC Sandzak and Doxa SC, respectively, at Tibbetts Brook Park. The victories lifted Lansdowne atop the American Premier Soccer League [APSL] Metropolitan Conference on goal difference.
Seven days after demolishing Osner’s FC 8-1 in the National Amateur Cup, Lansdowne returned to Tibbetts Brook last week Thursday and kept a clean sheet this time while firing another eight goals past Queens-based Sandzak under floodlights.
Midfielder Ethan Homler [8th] opened the latest floodgates early before Danú Kinsella Bishop [25th] and Seamus Keogh [27th] added to the tally.
The Bhoys took a 5-0 lead into the interval, courtesy of Liam Salmon [42nd] and Sam McCann [45+1]. On resumption, Benjamin Stitz [79th], Aitor Jorde [84th] and Keogh again [90+1] punctuated the Lansdowne rout.
Two nights later, Lansdowne head coach Matt Kane rang the changes as the Bhoys took on longtime Hellenic foes Doxa -- hoping to keep his side fresh for its fourth game in nine days. That included the 4-1 romp over Richmond County two days after annihilating Osner’s.
It was goalless against Doxa at half-time.
The Greek resistance held until the hour mark when Liam Salmon slammed in his own rebound from goalie Vasilis Ganasoulis’ initial save. This, after Salmon was released down the right.
SUPER SUBS
Moments after the goal, Coach Kane sent on Danú and McCann, for Nikolas Pajares and Rivendi Melvin Pierre Louis, respectively. The substitutions paid immediate dividend, with Danú scoring a minute later as the Bhoys turned the screws on the Greeks.
Some 60 seconds later, busy bee linkman Eric Danquah won the ball in midfield and passed it to McCann wide on the left. He darted down the wing and squared for Edgard Kreye, himself on as a sub, to blast home Lansdowne’s third goal.
McCann completed the scoring in the 89th minute, volleying in Danquah’s cross from the right.
“What was even more important than the goals -- even though the goals were pleasing -- was how we were patient against Doxa, we didn't panic,” said Kane.
“We hadn't scored in the first half, which would've been the first time this season that we didn't score in the first half. We went in at halftime. We addressed a few points and we came out and got the goal that we needed. That was more pleasing because it's very easy to all of a sudden start to panic. It's very easy to panic after having so much success early in games to finally have a game when you don't, and I was really happy to see that the team finished stronger than they started in that last game.”
“[I’m] extremely pleased with the results,” said Kane. “Another 48-hour turnaround of games. It’s never ideal but we've got a packed schedule and it was important that we use the entire depth of the squad, so between the two games we were able to make a lot of rotations. We highlighted the depths of the squad and [I’m] really happy that we had success with it.”
The two wins upped Lansdowne’s record to 4-1-0 [win-draw-loss] tied on 13 points with New York Greek Americans, Central Park Rangers and New York Athletic Club, albeit the Bhoys' plus 22 goal difference is much superior than their rivals’.
Lansdowne’s next game is away to another Greek side, Leros SC, this Sunday at the SUSA Orlin & Cohen Sports Complex [Field 4], located at 271 Carleton Ave, Central Islip, NY 11722. Kickoff is 6 p.m.
