Match Report: Staples vs. Stamford
Last year in the regular season, Stamford edged Staples 1-0, with a goal in the final 8 minutes at Loeffler Field.
The Wreckers earned revenge, topping the Black Knights 1-0 in overtime, at the losers’ turf.
This year Stamford started out 0-3. But they’ve been on a hot streak lately. Their new field is an asset to their fast forwards. It was great for Staples too: a team that loves to play the ball quickly, on the ground.
The Wreckers showed Gabe Baltierra at midfield. The co-captain was tasked with winning balls against the skillful Knights. When he pushed up, he did that well.
Staples threatened a few times in the first half, most notably when Lefty Penderakis followed up Nick DiMasi’s shot; Matthew Tanzer fed DiMasi inside; DiMasi sent Austin Sholesl in on goal, and Vaughan Sealey’s rip was saved.
At the other end, Ry Cohen saved well, in the 32nd minute. But defenders Rob Diorio, Nick Ambrose, Surya Balaji and Patricio Perez Elorza kept the hosts at bay for large portions of the half.
Sholes cleared a dangerous corner kick in the 48th minute. Stamford continued to catch the Wreckers offside, but in the 55th minute Mauricio Inglada sped through, and rammed a shot off the crosbar.
With 22 minutes left, Cohen saved again. But high-scoring forward Kenly Lalanne pounced on the rebound on the slippery turf, and — against the run of play — gave his side the lead.
It did not last long. Less than 2 minutes later, Inglada tore into the corner. He found Sholes, who laced a cross into the box. DiMasi was there to power-head home.
Staples poured on the attack. A Perez Elorza to Inglada combination almost worked. The Wreckers fought to the end.
But so did Stamford. The final 10 minutes saw end-to-end action — and a 1-1 draw.
The blue-and-whites played their 2nd game in 3 days — and 2nd of a tough week — at home on Wednesday against Ridgefield. Kickoff is 4 p.m. FINAL SCORE: Staples 1, Stamford 1. SEASON RECORD: 6-2-3.
QUICK KICKS: The reserves tied Stamford 1-1. Lars Djuve continued his scoring streak with a nice chip, assisted by Emerson Anvari. Colin Corneck stood out for Staples…
The freshmen won 3-1. Murilo Moreno opened the scoring with a blast. Stamford retaliated with a penalty kick; then Jackson Hochhauser converted his own PK. Murilo ended the scoring with a header off a corner kick. Bruno Guiduli was a force in back. Two days earlier, they scored with just 1:17 to go — a Guiduli free kick to a Moreno rocket — to edge Westhill 1-0.
Nick DiMasi tangles with a pair of Stamford defenders. The forward tied the game, with a 60th-minute header. (Photo/Armelle Daniels)
Ry Cohen punches clear, under strong Stamford pressure. (Photo/Armelle Daniels)
