Strikers FC 0 - 5 Secaucus FC - Game Report

Smith Field Park, Parsippany – Secaucus FC hit their stride last night by putting away their highest quality opponent of the Spring season. Names like Gormley, Landolfo, Shabovta, and Holbrook ruled the evening as the four formed the backbone to a Secaucus FC squad that put five goals in against NJ Strikers in GSSL Semi Pro North division action.

A back four of Wallis, Cisse, Holbrook, and Errico fought hard to preserve SFC’s four game streak of not conceding a goal. Shabovta and Haupert dominated the center of the field with Landolfo and Suzuta manning the flanks. Gormley and Acuna continuously proved dangerous. Mendoza, DeOliveira, and Topol also had very good games.

The first twenty minutes of the match proved very challenging for the away team as Strikers flexed their attacking muscle. Luckily, “Mr.Hall-of-Fame” himself, Jeff East and his defense held tight. Manager Daniel Brown switched things around tactically moving Holbrook from central midfield to anchor the back four, and brought on Giuseppe Landolfo and Christian Acuna to expose Striker’s backline, who dominated in the air, yet didn’t handle ground through balls well.

Brown’s tactical adjustments proved prophetic as just minutes after coming on, Landolfo ran onto a pass up the right wing and dribbled into the box. Using his body, SFC’s all time leading goal scorer was able to hold the ball up nicely as the clumsy defender barreled into the back of the winger’s knees forcing the referee to point to the spot. Eugene Gormley coolly slotted the ball past the keeper to open up the scoring on the day.

The second goal came just a few minutes later as some nice one-touch passing through the center of the field found Christian Acuna who split the Strikers defense with a perfect through ball finding an onrushing Gormley who rounded the keeper and scored on an open net. Gormley was not finished, however as he went on to score two more goals before new boy Boris Shabovta closed out the scoring by taking the ball 40 yards out, beating a defender before beating the stranded keeper with a sublime chipped finish from 20 yards out.

This was a huge win for the boys in blue as Strikers were the only potential obstacle in-between SFC and a second place finish in their first year at the semi pro level of the GSSL. The team now looks forward to a break of sorts this week as an exhibition is planned for Sunday against United Nations FC. The week after closes out GSSL Semi-Pro North action for SFC as they face top of the table Sport Club Portuguese in a “ division final” of sorts for the top two teams in the Semi Pro North. After Memorial Day, SFC starts to wind down the 2008/9 season by starting the group stage of the GSSL League Cup.

- April 20, 2009