Lansdowne Yonkers cleared another tough hurdle in the 2027 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, blanking in-form Red Hook FC 3-0 in the second qualifying round at Tibbetts Brook Park last Saturday.
Atop the United Premier Soccer League’s [UPSL] American North Conference with seven wins from as many league matches, Red Hook put up a gutsy fight before succumbing to the National Amateur Cup losing finalists.
Lansdowne head coach Matt Kane lauded his lads for a great win against the previously undefeated Brooklynites.
“Last week, we questioned the lads’ mentality and how they apply themselves,” said the Belfastman, alluding to the 3-3 draw with SC Vistula in a league fixture. “There's absolutely no question of how they rectified some of the criticism that I had of them a week ago. Their performance, intensity – everything, [was] excellent.”
It took the Bhoys a little while to get going, though, with Red Hook nearly taking the lead after eight minutes. That’s when a Lansdowne defender slipped as he tried to cut out a cross from the right. The ball found the speedy Youseff Afif on the left wing. He squared it to Red Hook’s big Italian-born striker Alberto Pangrazzi, who with only Lansdowne debutant goalie TJ Krongard at his mercy, shot wide.
It was back and forth until the 15th minute when midfielder Eric Danquah crafted the Bhoys’ first opportunity – a dipping shot from 25-yards that was acrobatically parried away for a corner by Red Hook goalie Yacine Sidi Aissa. As the Lansdowne pressure mounted, Sidi Aissa, an Algerian native, pulled off another great save in the 28th minute, this time from Jake Novoshelski.
Red Hook finally cracked in the 39th minute. The lively Sam McCann intercepted a pass in the center circle. He released Melvin Pierre Louis, who laid the ball to Henry Hamilton inside the box on the left. Hamilton’s left-footed shot slipped past Sidi Aissa for the Bhoys’ opener.
The visitors were punished again for an errant pass – this one from a defender to the goalie. Pierre Louis beat Sidi Aissa to the ball and scored to give Lansdowne a 2-0 half time lead.
Still, Red Hook refused to give up. On resumption they forced the Bhoys into a frantic goal-line clearance [51st] and won a penalty in the 58th minute that the debuting Krongard between the posts saved brilliantly with a dive to his right.
Red Hook would rue that wasted penalty when Sam McCann drilled in a low hard shot [67th] from Niko Vidal’s center to make it 3-0.
“[We’re] really happy with a win against an undefeated Red Hook team [that’s] been going well this season and sit atop the UPSL,” said Kane.
Even more pleasing for the coach was that the victory was accomplished by a weakened Lansdowne side.
“It was an extremely depleted squad – between injuries and absences. So, the performance was massive against an undefeated table-topping Red Hook in the UPSL.
“[I’m] excited to see who we get in the next round. And I believe it’s one of Greeks [New York Greek Americans], [New York] Pancyprian [Freedoms] or [NY] Renegades. [They] are the three remaining teams left in the New York path to the Open cup.”
Lansdowne defeated New York Athletic Club 1-0 in the first round last month.
The Bhoys return to action this Thursday night [Oct. 8] against Onsners FC, in the National Amateur Cup. Kick-off is 8 p.m. at Tibbetts Brook.
