This Week in the LISFL for April 28

As the season winds down the action continues to heat up in the LISFL. Istria picks up 3 points out east, Floral Park clinich promotion, and Cheiek Tidani scores 5 GOALS for Hota. All this week in the LISFL! Read more

By David Harris

Istria SC and Port Jefferson SC in a battle of first place teams

Mt. Sinai, NY - Istria SC continued their stellar week with a 2-0 over Port Jefferson SC on 2 goals by Angel Velez. It was a clash between the 2 teams currently leading the East and West groups of Division 1 and the match lived up to the billing. Istria started strong and were able to get the lead in the first half of a fiercely contested battle when Velez scored his first goal. Port Jefferson battled throughout and had some good chances denied due to offsides calls. Once Velez got his second goal for Istria, it was always going to be tough for Port Jefferson to come back. They continued to apply a lot of pressure though and this prompted Istria Assistant Coach Pietro Asaro to plead with his defense to keep their shape and not give away any scoring chances to the home team. Istria held on and maintained their lead in the West group by picking up the 3 points.

In other Division 1 results, Forest Park defeated Mineola Portuguese by a score of 5-0 to keep the pressure on Istria in the battle for first place in the West group. Emile Barnett scored 2 goals for Forest Park, while Daniel Cipriano, Cheyne Miller, and Andrew Quinones scored the others. College Point with 2 goals by Russell Mitchinson defeated Oceanside United 6-0. AC Glen Cove defeated NY Irish Rovers 3-0 with John Crawbuck and Steven Morales each picking up a goal.

The Division 1 Reserve results continued to vary quite a bit from the first team results. Mineola Portuguese drew 2-2 with Forest Park. Jesse Karlewicz picked up a goal for Mineola, while Felipe Marulanda Cuervo scored both goals for Forest Park. College Point defeated Oceanside United 4-1. Matthias Braeuchle scored 2 goals for College Point, while Michael Fiore and and Marlon Ortez scored the others.

Division 2 action included a 1-0 win for North Bellport over SS Cosma Damiano on a goal by Robert Cox. College Point Flames defeated Farmingville Portuguese 4-0 on 2 goals by Joseph Meagher, along with goals by Robert Fucci and Eric Horigan.

NY Hota Bavarians team picture prior to a 3-0 win over Port Jefferson 3

Floral Park continued their unbeaten season by defeating S.J. Portuguese 5-1. John Kokkoris scored a hat trick while Emanuel Messina and Adesola Odumewu each picked up a goal. With the win, Floral Park have cliniched promotion to Division 2. MLMIF - NY Towers defeated Queens Liberty United 4-2. Guzman Guadalupe scored 2 for MLMIF - NY Towers while Freddy Carrasco and Raul Zuniga scored the others.

In the O-30 Division, Istria defeated Lusitano Bulls SC 5-1. Istria player Zak Ivkovic provided the following account of the game: "Istria over-30 kept their LISFL unbeaten record intact and pushing their season record to 9-0 with a 5-1 home win over Lusitano Bulls.

Although the Bulls gave a spirited effort, Istria managed to take a 2-0 lead into halftime on strikes by Dzaja and Mike Giaccobone, the latter also assisting on the opening tally. Giaccobone extended the home side's lead to 3-0 early in the second half on a thru ball by Ljubo Caricic, heading the high ball over the onrushing keeper.
 
The Bulls got one back on a defensive giveaway, but Istria closed out the game with a penalty kick by Dan Peros and a beautiful long range effort by Carl Christian. The result could have been more lopsided had Istria converted its' numerous opportunities, but nevertheless these three points push them into the top spot overall.
 
"Our intensity was not there and they fought for every ball, so that combination made it a tougher game then our guys might have expected", said coach Carlo Bucich."
 
In other O-30 action, NY Polet defeated AC Glen Cove 3-1 with Alejandro Broglia scoring for AC Glen Cove.

The O-40 Division included a 7-3 win for NY Hota Bavarians over NY Pancyprians. Cheiek Tidiani scored 5 goals for Hota, while Zef Gjokaj and Keles Rusal picked up the other goals. Long Island Gaels VSP and Baisley United drew 3-3. Alberto Peredo scored 1 for LI Gaels while Paul Hoo-Fong scored 1 for Baisley. Astoria Rudar with 2 goals each by Robert Gretton and Zoran Jovic defeated Locust Valley 4-2. Francisco Martinez scored both goals for Locust Valley.

The LISFL's Polish derby took place with Polonia defeating Polonez 4-2. Joseph Bajek, Wesley Drelich, Jaroslaw Mieleszko, and Jan Zyzanski scored for Polonia while Wieslaw Halon scored both goals for Polonez. Pele Masters on a hat trick by Joel Wickham defeated Oceanside United 3-1. Michael Connell scored for Oceanside.